Patent ID: 7025734

Claim:
A guidewire for penetrating into a vessel, comprising: (a) an elongated wire assembly capable of being guided to a designated region of a vessel within a patient's body, the elongated wire assembly comprising an elongated member including a lumen disposed along a segment of the elongated member, and an opening in the elongated member, the opening positioned so that the lumen is in fluid communication with the vessel; and (b) a sensor positioned within the lumen of the elongated member so that the sensor is in fluid communication with the vessel through the opening, the sensor being capable of measuring the level of nitric oxide or superoxide molecules in the vessel of the patient's body, wherein the sensor is capable of being moved independently of a distal end of the elongated member for adjusting the position of the sensor relative to the distal end, and wherein the sensor comprises an electrically conductive substrate having an amperometric response that is substantially unaffected by the presence of nitric oxide or superoxide, and a coating capable of reacting with nitric oxide or superoxide so as to cause a change in the electrochemical potential of the nitric oxide or superoxide.