Composite medical device with markers

• US 20040106878A1
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Skujins, Peter, Reynolds, Brian R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,153,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09075 having a core without a coil possibly combined with a sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09083 having a coil around a core
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09108 Methods for making a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09141 made of shape memory alloys which take a particular shape at a certain temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09166 having radio-opaque features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

Medical devices and methods of manufacturing medical devices. The medical devices include an elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a connector assembly disposed adjacent the elongated member to connect the proximal and distal portions, the connector assembly including a radiopaque marker.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

an first elongated member having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

an second elongated member having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a connector disposed adjacent the distal portion of the first elongated member and adjacent the proximal portion of the second elongated member to connect the first and second elongated members; and

a radiopaque marker disposed adjacent the connector for imaging the device.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a tubular connector member disposed about the distal portion of the first elongated member and about the proximal portion of the second elongated member.

3. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the radiopaque marker is disposed within the tubular connector member.

4. The medical device of claim 2, wherein the radiopaque marker is disposed within the tubular connector member between the distal portion of the first elongated member and the proximal portion of the second elongated member.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the radiopaque marker is disposed about the distal portion of the first elongated member adjacent the connector.

6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the radiopaque marker is disposed about the proximal portion of the second elongated member adjacent the connector.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the radiopaque marker is coupled to the connector.

8. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a second radiopaque marker disposed adjacent the connector for imaging the device.

9. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a second and a third radiopaque marker disposed adjacent the connector for imaging the device.

10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a tubular connector member disposed about the distal portion of the first elongated member and about the proximal portion of the second elongated member, and the radiopaque marker is disposed within the tubular connector member;

and

the medical device further comprises a second radiopaque marker that is disposed about either the distal portion of the first elongated member adjacent the connector or disposed about the proximal portion of the second elongated member adjacent the connector.

11. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the medical device further comprises a third radiopaque marker that is disposed about either the distal portion of the first elongated member adjacent the connector or disposed about the proximal portion of the second elongated member adjacent the connector.

12. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the device is a guidewire.

13. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first elongated member comprises a first material, and the second elongated member comprises a second material different from the first material.

14. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the first material comprises a stainless steel alloy.

15. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the second material comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.

16. A medical device, comprising:

a first elongated member having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

a second elongated member having a proximal portion and a distal portion; and

a connector assembly including a radiopaque marker, the connector assembly disposed adjacent the distal portion of the first elongated member and adjacent the proximal portion of the second elongate member to connect the first and second elongated members.

17. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the connector assembly includes a connector member that is disposed about the distal portion of the first elongated member and about the proximal portion of the second elongated member, and the radiopaque marker is disposed within the connector member.

18. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the connector assembly includes a connector member that is disposed about the distal portion of the first elongated member and about the proximal portion of the second elongated member, and the radiopaque marker is disposed adjacent the connector member about either the distal portion of the first elongated member or about the proximal portion of the second elongated member.

19. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the connector assembly further comprises a second radiopaque marker.

20. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the connector assembly further comprises a second and a third radiopaque marker.

21. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the connector assembly comprises a tubular connector member disposed about the distal portion of the first elongated member and about the proximal portion of the second elongated member.

22. The medical device of claim 21, wherein the radiopaque marker is disposed within the tubular connector member.

23. The medical device of claim 21, wherein the radiopaque marker is disposed about either the distal portion of the first elongated member adjacent the tubular connector member or disposed about the proximal portion of the second elongated member adjacent the tubular connector member.

24. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the device is a guidewire.

25. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the an first elongated member comprises a stainless steel alloy, and the second elongated member comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.

26. A method of manufacturing a medical device, the method comprising:

providing a first elongate member and a second elongate member, each having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

providing a connector assembly comprising a connector member and one or more radiopaque marker; and

connecting the distal end of the first member and the proximal end of the second member using the connector assembly such that the one or more radiopaque marker is disposed adjacent the connector member.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the connector member comprises a tubular connector member, and the connecting step includes disposing the connector member about the distal portion of the first elongated member and about the proximal portion of the second elongated member.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the radiopaque marker is disposed within the tubular connector member.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the radiopaque marker is disposed about either the distal portion of the first elongated member adjacent the connector member or is disposed about the proximal portion of the second elongated member adjacent the connector.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the radiopaque marker is coupled to the connector member.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the connector assembly further comprises a second radiopaque marker disposed adjacent the connector member.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the connector assembly further comprises a second and a third radiopaque marker disposed adjacent the connector member.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the device is a guidewire.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the first elongated member comprises a first material, and the second elongated member comprises a second material different from the first material.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the first material comprises a stainless steel alloy.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the second material comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.

37. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of laser welding the first and second elongate members to the connector member.

38. A method of manufacturing a medical device comprising:

providing a first elongate member and a second elongate member, each having a proximal end and a distal end;

providing a connector member and one or more radiopaque markers;

connecting the distal end of the first member and the proximal end of the second member using the connector member; and

disposing the one or more radiopaque markers adjacent the connector member.

39. A medical device comprising:

a first elongated member comprising a nickel-titanium alloy;

a second elongated member comprising a stainless steel alloy;

a connector adapted and configured to connect the first and second elongated members; and

a radiopaque marker disposed adjacent the connector.

40. A medical device comprising:

an elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

means for connecting the proximal portion and the distal portion; and

means for imaging the core member adjacent the means for connecting the proximal portion and the distal portion.

41. A guidewire comprising:

an elongate core member having a proximal portion and a distal portion; and

means for connecting and imaging the proximal and distal portions.