06264611 is referenced by 165 patents and cites 19 patents.
A ball-shaped semiconductor monitoring device (
150
) having one or more transducer functions for use with an instrument that is insertable into a human body. In one disclosed embodiment, a needle (
130
) and modified stylet (
140
) are inserted into intraluminal body cavities for measuring fluid pressure. The modified stylet (
140
) has the monitoring device (
150
) attached to one end. The stylet (
140
) has a metal annulus (
142
) extending throughout its length and a communication wire (
144
) disposed therein. The wire (
144
) is surrounded by an insulator (
146
) to electrically isolate it from the stylet (
140
). A recessed cavity (
148
) is provided at the distal end of the stylet (
140
) to accommodate the ball monitoring device (
150
). A transducer (
152
) is integrated on the ball device (
150
) to measure such quantitative conditions as pressure. The ball (
150
) has a ground terminal (
154
) and a data terminal (
156
). The ground terminal (
154
) is electrically connected to the metal annulus (
142
) of the stylet (
140
) by a solder joint (
158
). The data terminal (
156
) is connected to the communication wire (
144
) by a contact (
160
). The instrument that carries the semiconductor device to a particular site within the body may be a catheter, guidewire, stylet, needle or any other insertable instrument. The transducer can be fabricated to sense pressure, fluid flow rate, temperature and other physiological parameters and physical conditions.
