MRI compatible guide wire

• US 20050070793A1
• Filed: 11/17/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas H. Gesswein, Emmanuel C. Biagtan, Stephen D. Pacetti
• Original Assignee: Douglas H. Gesswein, Emmanuel C. Biagtan, Stephen D. Pacetti
• Inventors: Gesswein, Douglas H., Pacetti, Stephen D., Biagtan, Emmanuel C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,507,211 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/431
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09083 having a coil around a core
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09166 having radio-opaque features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An improved intracorporeal device such as a guide wire or other guiding member for use within a patient'"'"'s body that is at least in part visible under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but is not detrimentally affected by the imaging is disclosed. The intracorporeal device has a non-conductive proximal core section, an essentially non-magnetic metallic distal core section that is preferably more flexible than the proximal core section, and that has an MRI visible member or coil in the distal section.

Claims

1. A guide wire, comprising:

a core having a proximal core section with proximal and distal ends and a distal core section with proximal and distal ends; and

a non-conductive joint securing the distal end of the proximal core section to the proximal end of the distal core section;

wherein the non-conductive joint is not covered by a hypotube.

2. The guide wire of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive joint encases at least one of the distal end of the proximal core section and the proximal end of the distal core section.

3. The guide wire of claim 1, wherein at least one of the distal end of the proximal core section and the proximal end of the distal core section includes a taper.

4. The guide wire of claim 1, wherein at least one of the distal end of the proximal core section and the proximal end of the distal core section has an undulated shape.

5. The guide wire of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive joint includes at least in part one or more thermoplastic polymeric materials selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyetheretherketone, ABS, epoxy, copolymers, and blends thereof.

6. A process for joining two guide wire core materials without using a hypotube, comprising:

providing a proximal core section having a distal end and a distal core section having a proximal end;

grinding at least one of the distal end of the proximal core section and the proximal end of the distal core section;

shaping at least one of the distal end of the proximal core section and the proximal end of the distal core section into a geometric pattern; and

at least partially encasing at least one of the distal end of the proximal core section and the proximal end of the distal core section with a non-conductive material.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein the non-conductive material includes at least in part of one or more thermoplastic polymeric materials selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyetheretherketone, ABS, epoxy, copolymers, and blends thereof.

8. The process of claim 6, further comprising forming a taper on at least one of the distal end of the proximal core and the proximal end of the distal core.

9. The process of claim 6, wherein the geometric pattern is an undulated shape.

10. A guide wire, comprising:

a core having a proximal core section with proximal and distal ends and a distal core section with proximal and distal ends; and

a non-conductive means securing the distal end of the proximal core section to the proximal end of the distal core section;

wherein the non-conductive means is not covered by a hypotube.

11. The guide wire of claim 10, wherein the non-conductive means includes a non-metallic material.

12. The guide wire of claim 10, wherein the proximal core section includes stainless steel.

13. The guide wire of claim 12, wherein the distal core section includes nitinol.

14. The guide wire of claim 10, wherein the non-conductive means includes at least in part one or more thermoplastic polymeric materials selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyetheretherketone, ABS, epoxy, co-polymers, and blends thereof.

15. The guide wire of claim 10, wherein the non-conductive means includes at least one of a polymerizable material and a hardenable non-conductive material.

16. The guide wire of claim 10, wherein the proximal end of the distal core section and the distal end of the proximal core section do not overlie each other.

17. The guide wire of claim 10, wherein the proximal end of the distal core section and the distal end of the proximal core section have respective flat faces that nearly abut each other.

18. The guide wire of claim 10, wherein the proximal end of the distal core section and the distal end of the proximal core section do not directly contact each other.