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Abstract

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.

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First Claim