Locking guidewire straightener

• US 20050049572A1
• Filed: 10/07/2004
• Published: 03/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
• Inventors: Sanford, Kevin, Schweikert, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 7,455,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/500
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09041 Mechanisms for insertion of guide wires

Abstract

A guidewire straightener assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a guidewire tube including a tubular passage having a first diameter and a distal end including a collar having a second diameter, larger than the first diameter. The assembly also includes a guidewire straightener having a distal end, a proximal end having an exterior surface with a diameter sized to fit within the guidewire tube, and a longitudinal passageway sized to accept the guidewire, the passageway extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The proximal end of the guidewire straightener further includes at least one finger extending therefrom. The assembly further includes a guidewire having a third diameter, smaller than the first diameter, wherein the guidewire is disposed within the tubular passage and the longitudinal passageway. When the guidewire straightener is disposed within the guidewire tube in a first position in the tubular passage, the at least one finger is biased by the tubular passage into frictional engagement with the guidewire. When the guidewire straightener is disposed within the guidewire tube in a second position in the collar, the at least one finger is disposed away from frictional engagement with the guidewire.

Claims

1. A guidewire straightener assembly comprising:

a guidewire tube including;

a tubular passage having a first diameter;

a distal end including a collar having a second diameter, larger than the first diameter;

a guidewire straightener including;

a distal end;

a proximal end having an exterior surface with a diameter sized to fit within the guidewire tube wherein the proximal end of the guidewire straightener further includes at least one finger extending therefrom; and

a longitudinal passageway sized to accept the guidewire, the passageway extending between the proximal end and the distal end; and

a guidewire having a third diameter, smaller than the first diameter, wherein the

guidewire is disposed within the tubular passage and the longitudinal passageway;

such that, when the guidewire straightener is disposed within the guidewire tube in a first position in the tubular passage, the at least one finger is biased by the tubular passage into frictional engagement with the guidewire, and, when the guidewire straightener is disposed within the guidewire tube in a second position in the collar, the at least one finger is disposed away from frictional engagement with the guidewire.

2. The guidewire straightener assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one finger comprises a plurality of fingers.

3. The guidewire straightener assembly according to claim 1, wherein, when the collar further comprises a longitudinal opening having a fourth diameter, smaller than the second diameter.

4. The guidewire straightener assembly according to claim 1, wherein the distal end of the guidewire straightener has a generally conical shape.

11. A method of inserting a guidewire into a patient comprising:

providing the guidewire straightener assembly of claim 1;

distally disposing the guidewire straightener from the distal end of the tube such that the at least one finger is translated from the tubular passage to the collar such that the at least one finger is biased away from the guidewire;

inserting the proximal end of the guidewire straightener into an introducer device; and

advancing the guidewire distally through the introducer device and into the patient.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising, after inserting the guidewire into the patient a desired length, removing the guidewire straightener and the guidewire tube from the guidewire by sliding the guidewire straightener and the guidewire tube proximally along the guidewire.

13. A method of inserting a guidewire into a patient comprising:

providing the guidewire straightener assembly of claim 1;

distally disposing the guidewire straightener from the distal end of the tube with a force sufficient to move the at least one finger from the tubular passage and into the collar, but not sufficient so as to remove the at least one finger from the collar;

inserting the proximal end of the guidewire straightener into an introducer device; and

advancing the guidewire distally through the introducer device and into the patient.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising, after inserting the guidewire into the patient a desired length, removing the guidewire straightener and the guidewire tube from the guidewire by sliding the guidewire straightener and the guidewire tube proximally along the guidewire.

5. A catheter guidewire tube comprising:

a body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a tube passageway extending between the distal end and the proximal end, wherein the tube has a first diameter; and

a collar fixedly connected to the distal end, wherein the collar comprises a longitudinal passage having a second diameter, larger than the first diameter, and wherein the collar further comprises a distal opening having a third diameter, smaller than the second diameter.

6. The catheter guidewire tube according to claim 5, wherein the collar is fixedly connected to the body.

7. The catheter guidewire tube according to claim 6, wherein the collar is fixedly connected to the tube by an adhesive.

8. The catheter guidewire tube according to claim 6, wherein the collar is fixedly connected to the tube by ultrasonic welding.

9. The catheter guidewire tube according to claim 5, wherein the third diameter is sufficiently large to receive a proximal end of a guidewire straightener inserted therein.

10. The catheter guidewire tube according to claim 5, wherein the first diameter is sufficiently small to frictionally engage a proximal end of a guidewire straightener inserted therein.

15. A method of inserting a guidewire into a patient comprising:

providing the guidewire straightener assembly of claim 5;

distally disposing the guidewire straightener from the distal end of the tube such that the at least one finger is translated from the tubular passage to the collar such that the at least one finger is biased away from the guidewire;

inserting the proximal end of the guidewire straightener into an introducer device; and

advancing the guidewire distally through the introducer device and into the patient.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising, after inserting the guidewire into the patient a desired length, removing the guidewire straightener and the guidewire tube from the guidewire by sliding the guidewire straightener and the guidewire tube proximally along the guidewire.

17. A method of inserting a guidewire into a patient comprising:

providing the guidewire straightener assembly of claim 5;

distally disposing the guidewire straightener from the distal end of the tube with a force sufficient to move the at least one finger from the tubular passage and into the collar, but not sufficient so as to remove the at least one finger from the collar;

inserting the proximal end of the guidewire straightener into an introducer device; and

advancing the guidewire distally through the introducer device and into the patient.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising, after inserting the guidewire into the patient a desired length, removing the guidewire straightener and the guidewire tube from the guidewire by sliding the guidewire straightener and the guidewire tube proximally along the guidewire.