title: Rapid exchange ultra-thin microcatheter using fibre-optic sensing technology for measurement of intracoronary fractional flow reserve.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present report describes a novel coronary fractional flow reserve (FFR) system which allows FFR assessment using a rapid exchange microcatheter (RXi).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The RXi microcatheter is compatible with standard 0.014" coronary guidewires facilitating lesion negotiation and FFR assessment in a wide range of coronary anatomies. In case of serial lesions, a microcatheter would have the important advantage of allowing multiple pullbacks while maintaining wire access to the vessel. The RXi is a fibre-optic sensor technology-based device. This technology might allow reduction in signal drift. The RXi microcatheter's fibre-optic sensor is located 5 mm from the distal tip. The microcatheter profile at the sensor site is 0.027"0.036". The segment of the catheter which is intended to reside within the target lesion is proximal to the sensor and has dimensions decreased to 0.020"0.025"; these dimensions are comparable to a 0.022" circular-shaped wire.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The RXi microcatheter FFR system represents a novel technology that could allow easier lesion negotiation, maintaining guidewire position, facilitating pullbacks for assessment of serial lesions and simplifying the obtainment of post-intervention FFR measurements. The optical sensing technology could additionally result in less signal drift. Further investigations are required to evaluate the clinical value of this technology fully.
authors.affiliation: Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Diletti
authors.forename: Nicolas M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Van Mieghem
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valgimigli
authors.forename: Antonis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karanasos
authors.forename: Bert R C
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Everaert
authors.forename: Joost
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Daemen
authors.forename: Robert-Jan
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Geuns
authors.forename: Peter P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: de Jaegere
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zijlstra
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Regar
mesh_terms: D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D062906:Cardiac Catheters; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004867:Equipment Design; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D053805:Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008833:Microcirculation; D008904:Miniaturization; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests