Elongated intracorporal medical device

• US 20040167442A1
• 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: Eskuri, Alan D., Miller, Jeffrey A., Reynolds, Brian R., Shireman, Brice L., Voeller, Virgil F., Johnson, Dave B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,182,735 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 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

Alternative designs, materials and manufacturing methods for guidewires. Some embodiments pertain to a composite guidewire having proximal and distal section, and a connector adapted and configured for permanently joining the proximal section to the distal section. In some embodiments, at least one of the sections is made of a linear-elastic nickel-titanium alloy. Several alternative guidewire tip constructions and/or designs including methods and techniques of construction are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

an elongated shaft;

a first coil member connected to the elongated shaft; and

a second coil member connected to the first coil, wherein the second coil is free of direct attachment to the elongated shaft.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first coil is an outer coil, and the second coil is an inner coil.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first coil is made of a first material and the second coil is made of a second material, and wherein the second material is more radiopaque than the first material.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first and second coil members are constructed of a common coiled filament.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the second coil is connected to the first coil by LASER welding.

6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the second coil is connected to the first coil by soldering or brazing, and the solder or brazing material is heated using LASER energy.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first coil member defines and inner lumen, and the second coil member is disposed at least partially within the inner lumen of the first coil member.

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

9. A coil construction for use in a medical device, the coil construction comprising:

a first coil member adapted and configured for connection to the medical device; and

a second coil member connected to the first coil;

wherein, the coil construction is configured such that when the first coil member is connected to the medical device, the second coil member is free of direct attachment to any other structure within the medical device.

10. A method of making a medical device, the method comprising:

providing a first coil member and a second coil member;

attaching the second coil member to the first coil member;

providing an elongated shaft;

attaching the first coil member to the elongated shaft such that the second coil is free of direct attachment to the shaft.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second coil is attached to the first coil by LASER welding.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first coil member defines and inner lumen, and the second coil member is attached at least partially within the inner lumen of the first coil member.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first coil member comprises MP35-N or a nickel-titanium alloy, and the second coil member comprises a radiopaque material.

14. A guidewire comprising:

an elongated shaft including a proximal region having a first outer diameter and a distal region having a second outer diameter that is smaller than the first outer diameter;

a first coil member connected to the elongated shaft at the proximal region and extending from the proximal region over the distal region, the first coil member having an inner diameter that is greater than the second outer diameter; and

a second coil member disposed about the distal region, and extending within and connected to the first coil member, wherein the second coil member is free of direct attachment to any other structure within the guidewire.

15. A method of making a guidewire, the method comprising:

providing a metallic elongated shaft;

providing a metallic structural member configured to be connected to the elongated shaft;

heating a heat activated attachment material using LASER energy;

disposing the heat activated attachment material adjacent the elongated shaft and the structural member such that it adjoins the elongated shaft and the structural member; and

allowing the heat activated attachment material to cool and attach the elongated shaft and the structural.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the activated attachment material is a solder material.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a LASER diode is used to heat the solder.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the heat activated material is a brazing material.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the structural member comprises a ribbon.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the structural member comprises a coil.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the elongated shaft comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the structural member comprises stainless steel, nickel-titanium alloy, nickel-chromium alloy, nickel-chromium-iron alloy, cobalt alloy, tungsten, MP35-N, hastelloy, monel 400, or inconel 625.

23. The method of claim 15, at least a portion of the heat activated attachment material is disposed between the elongated shaft and the structural member.

24. A method of making a guidewire, the method comprising:

providing an elongated shaft;

providing a structural member configured to be connected to the elongated shaft;

connecting the structural member to the elongated shaft using a heat activated attachment material while using LASER energy to heat the heat activated attachment material.

25. A method of making a guidewire, the method comprising:

providing a metallic elongated shaft;

providing a metallic structural member configured to be connected to the elongated shaft; and

LASER welding a portion of the metallic elongated shaft to the metallic structural member using energy to created the weld.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the elongated shaft comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the structural member comprises a metallic alloy, the metallic alloy comprising UNS N06625, UNS 10276, Hastelloy alloy B2, or MP35-N.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the structural member comprises a ribbon.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the structural member comprises a coil.

30. A guidewire, comprising:

an elongated proximal section having a distal end and a proximal end;

an elongated distal section comprising a linear elastic nickel-titanium alloy, the distal section having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a tubular connector disposed adjacent the distal end of the proximal section and the proximal end of the distal section, the connector being LASER welded to both the distal end of the proximal section and the proximal end of the distal section.

31. The guidewire of claim 30, distal section comprises a nickel-titanium alloy and the proximal section comprises stainless steel.

32. The guidewire of claim 30, wherein the tubular connector comprises a metallic alloy, the metallic alloy comprising UNS N06625, UNS 10276, Hastelloy alloy B2, or MP35-N.

33. A guidewire as in claim 30 wherein the guidewire further includes a flat ribbon attached to the distal section.

34. The guidewire of claim 33, wherein the ribbon is attached to the distal section by LASER soldering.

35. The guidewire of claim 34, wherein the coil comprises a nickel-titanium alloy or MP35-N.

36. A guidewire of claim 34, wherein the guidewire further comprises an inner coil disposed within and connected to the coil, wherein the inner coil is free of direct attachment to any other structure within the guidewire.

37. A guidewire comprising:

an elongated shaft including a proximal section and a distal section;

a coil member connected to the elongated shaft and being disposed over at least a portion of the distal section, the coil member comprising MP35-N, or a nickel titanium alloy.

38. The guidewire of claim 37, wherein the coil member comprises MP35-N.

39. The guidewire of claim 37, wherein the coil member comprises a linear elastic nickel titanium alloy.

40. The guidewire of claim 37, wherein the coil member comprises a super elastic nickel titanium alloy.

41. The guidewire of claim 37, wherein the coil includes adjacent coil windings that have been pre-tensioned along at least a portion of the length of the coil.

42. A medical device comprising:

an elongated shaft;

a first coil member connected to the elongated shaft; and

a second coil member; and

means for connecting the second coil member to the first coil member.

43. A guidewire comprising:

an elongated shaft including a proximal section and a distal section;

a tubular attachment member disposed about a portion of the shaft;

a coil member disposed over at least a portion of the distal section, the coil member being connected to the tubular attachment member.