Multiple diameter guidewire

• US 20040167440A1
• Filed: 02/26/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Sharrow, James S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,167,821 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 2025/09175 having specific characteristics at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0108 using radio-opaque or ultrasound markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0662 Guide tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

A guidewire can include a shaft or core wire that has a distal section configured for access to a vascular treatment site and a proximal section configured for intervention at a vascular treatment site. At least a portion of the distal section of the shaft or core wire can have a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the proximal section.

Claims

1. A guidewire for use in an anatomy of a patient, the guidewire comprising:

an elongate shaft having a proximal section and a distal section, the distal section including a portion having an outside diameter that is greater than an outside diameter of the proximal section;

the distal section having a length configured to extend from a first position adjacent a target site within the anatomy to a second position outside the patient; and

the proximal section having a length configured to extend from the first position adjacent the target site within the anatomy of the patient to the second position outside the patient.

2. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein 20% or more of the distal section has an outside diameter that is greater than the outside diameter of the proximal section.

3. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein 50% or more of the distal section has an outside diameter that is greater than the outside diameter of the proximal section.

4. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the proximal section is substantially constant along the length thereof.

5. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the distal section of the shaft includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, and the proximal portion has an outside diameter that is greater than the outside diameter of the proximal section of the shaft.

6. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the distal section comprises one or more constant diameter portions and one or more tapered portions.

7. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the proximal section comprises one or more constant diameter portions and one or more tapered portions.

8. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the distal section has a constant outside diameter that is greater than the outside diameter of the proximal section.

9. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the target site in the anatomy is accessible through a blood vessel in the anatomy, and the distal section has a length configured to extend from the target site, through the blood vessel and to the second position outside the patient.

10. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the target site in the anatomy is accessible through a blood vessel in the anatomy, and the proximal section has a length configured to extend from the target site, through the blood vessel and to the second position outside the patient.

20. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the target site in the anatomy is accessible through a blood vessel in the anatomy, and the proximal section has a length configured to extend from the target site, through the blood vessel and to the second position outside the patient.

11. An guidewire for use in an anatomy of a patient, the guidewire comprising:

a core wire that extends from a position adjacent a distal end of the guidewire to a position adjacent a proximal end of the guidewire, the core wire having a distal section and a proximal section;

the distal section including a portion having an outside diameter that is greater than an outside diameter of the proximal section;

the distal section having a length configured to extend from a first position adjacent a target site in the anatomy to a second position outside the patient.

12. The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the proximal section has a length configured to extend from the first position adjacent the target site in the anatomy to the second position outside the patient.

13. The guidewire of claim 11, wherein 20% or more of the distal section has an outside diameter that is greater than the outside diameter of the proximal section.

14. The guidewire of claim 11, wherein 50% or more of the distal section has an outside diameter that is greater than the outside diameter of the proximal section.

15. The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the outer diameter of the proximal section is substantially constant along the length thereof.

16. The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the distal section of the core wire includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, and the proximal portion has an outside diameter that is greater than the outside diameter of the proximal section of the core wire.

17. The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the distal section comprises one or more constant diameter portions and one or more tapered portions.

18. The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the proximal section comprises one or more constant diameter portions and one or more tapered portions.

19. The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the target site in the anatomy is accessible through a blood vessel in the anatomy, and the distal section has a length configured to extend from the target site, through the blood vessel and to the second position outside the patient.

21. The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the proximal section of the core wire has a length that is in the range of about 33 to 60 inches.

22. The guidewire of claim 15, wherein the proximal section of the core wire has a diameter in the range of about 0.014 to about 0.02 inches.

23. The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the distal section of the core wire has a length that is in the range of about 6 to about 18 inches.

24. The guidewire of claim 11, further comprising a polymer sleeve disposed about at least a portion of the core wire.

25. The guidewire of claim 11, further comprising a coil disposed about at least a portion of the distal section of the core wire.

26. The guidewire of claim 11, further comprising a radiopaque marker member disposed adjacent a junction between the distal section and the proximal section of the core wire.

27. A guidewire for use in an anatomy of a patient, the guidewire comprising:

an elongated shaft including;

a distal section including means for navigating within the anatomy and extending between a first position disposed adjacent a target site within the anatomy of the patient to a second position disposed outside the patient; and

a proximal section including means for extending between the first position disposed adjacent the target site within the anatomy of the patient to a second position disposed outside the patient and for guiding another device thereover.

28. A method of manufacturing a guidewire for use in an anatomy of a patient, the method comprising:

forming an elongate shaft having a proximal section and a distal section, the distal section including a portion having an outside diameter that is greater than an outside diameter of the proximal section;

providing the distal section with a length configured to extend from a first position adjacent a target site within the anatomy to a second position outside the patient; and

providing the proximal section with a length configured to extend from the first position adjacent the target site within the anatomy of the patient to the second position outside the patient.

29. A method of manufacturing a core wire for use in a guidewire adapted for use in an anatomy of a patient, the method comprising:

forming the core wire such that it includes a distal section and a proximal section;

providing the distal section with a portion having an outside diameter that is greater than an outside diameter of the proximal section; and

providing the distal section with a length configured to extend from a first position adjacent a target site in the anatomy to a second position outside the patient.

30. A method of accessing a treatment site within an anatomy of a patient, the method comprising:

providing a guidewire including an elongate shaft having a proximal section and a distal section, the distal section including a portion having an outside diameter that is greater than an outside diameter of the proximal section and a length configured to extend from a first position adjacent a target site within the anatomy to a second position outside the patient, and the proximal section also having a length configured to extend from the first position adjacent the target site within the anatomy of the patient to the second position outside the patient;

inserting the distal section through an access point in the anatomy of the patient;

advancing the distal section within the anatomy until the distal section extends from the first position adjacent the target site within the anatomy to the second position outside the patient; and

advancing the proximal section within the anatomy until the proximal section extends from the first position adjacent the target site within the anatomy to the second position outside the patient, wherein the distal section is advanced distally of the treatment site within the anatomy.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising advancing an intervention device over the proximal section of the guidewire.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the intervention device comprises a balloon catheter, an infusion catheter, a stent deployment catheter, or a cutting balloon catheter.