Active catheter, active guide wire and related sensor systems

Active catheters and active guide wires which move like a snake utilizing distributed shape memory alloy actuators have been developed for catheter-based minimally invasive diagnosis and therapy. Active catheters and guide wires can have bending, torsional and extending mechanisms. Communication and control IC chips in the active catheter reduce the number of lead wires for control. An ultra miniature fiber-optic pressure sensor, a forward-looking ultrasonic probe and a magnetic position and orientation sensor have been developed for multifunctional catheters and multifunctional guide wires. These moving mechanisms and several sensors, which are equipped near the tip of the catheter and guide wire can provide detail information near the tip and enable doctors to perform delicate and effective catheter intervention.