High performance coil wire

• US 20020019599A1
• Filed: 09/24/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andy Kapravy, Clifford M. Liu, Joseph Richard, Maura Rooney, Michael S.H. Chu, Tom Mirarchi
• Original Assignee: Andy Kapravy, Clifford M. Liu, Joseph Richard, Maura Rooney, Michael S.H. Chu, Tom Mirarchi
• Inventors: Rooney, Maura, Richard, Joseph, Chu, Michael S.H., Mirarchi, Tom, Kapravy, Andy, Liu, Clifford M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,955,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09083 having a coil around a core
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09175 having specific characteristics at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

A high performance coil over-core guide wire. The guide wire incorporates a nickel-titanium core with a stainless steel coil to provide a wire with improved kink resistance and good pushability.

Claims

1. A guide wire comprising:

an elongate core composed of a nickel-titanium alloy; and

a coil composed of a second material and surrounding a substantial portion of the core.

2. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein the nickel-titanium alloy comprises a super-elastic metal.

3. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein the nickel-titanium alloy comprises a linear-elastic metal.

4. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein the second material comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.

5. The guide wire of claim 4 wherein the nickel-titanium alloy comprises a super-elastic metal.

6. The guide wire of claim 4 wherein the nickel-titanium alloy comprises a linear-elastic metal.

7. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein the second material comprises stainless steel.

8. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein the second material comprises a precipitation hardenable alloy.

9. The guide wire of claim 1 further comprising:

a polymer tip surrounding a distal portion of the core wire.

10. The guide wire of claim 9 wherein the polymer tip comprises a radio-opaque filler whereby a distal tip of the guide wire may be more readily visible under fluoroscopy.

11. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein the coil comprises a single strand of wire.

12. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein the coil comprises a multi-filar strand.

13. The guide wire of claim 11 wherein the wire further comprises a rectangular cross-section.

14. The guide wire of claim 11 wherein the wire further comprises a circular cross-section.

15. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein the coil further comprises a pitch which varies along the length of the coil.

16. The guide wire of claim 15 wherein the pitch of the coil varies such that a distal end of the coil is more flexible then a proximal end of the coil.

17. The guide wire of claim 1 further comprising:

a hypotube, joined to the core and bonded to the coil.

18. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein a bond is formed between the coil and the core.

19. The guide wire of claim 18 wherein the bond comprises a weld bond.

20. The guide wire of claim 18 wherein the bond comprises an adhesive bond.

21. A floppy-tipped guide wire comprising:

a core;

a coil surrounding at least a distal portion of the core, a distal end of the coil extending distal of the distal portion of the core,

a tip bonded to the distal end of the coil; and

a polymeric safety ribbon bonding the distal portion of the core to the tip.