Medical device with push force limiter

• US 20050137501A1
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Vrba, Anthony C., Euteneuer, Charles L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,824,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0915 having features for changing the stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0054 with regions for increasing flexibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

A medical device with improved flexibility characteristics and methods of using the same. The medical device may include a proximal end, a distal end, and an intermediate region. In at least some embodiments, the column strength or flexibility of the intermediate portion is generally greater than the column strength or flexibility at the distal end.

Claims

1. A medical device, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the proximal and distal portions; and

wherein the intermediate portion is more flexible than the distal portion and the proximal portion.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the distal portion is more flexible than the proximal portion.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the proximal portion comprises stainless steel.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the distal portion comprises nickel-titanium alloy.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion comprises a polymer.

6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion includes an outer surface and one or more notches defined in the outer surface.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion includes a coil.

8. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a sheath disposed over at least a portion of the shaft.

9. The medical device of claim 8, wherein the sheath includes a radiopaque material.

10. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a coil disposed over at least a portion of the shaft.

11. A medical device, comprising;

an elongate shaft having a proximal region and a distal region;

the distal region including a distal tip and an intermediate portion disposed proximally of the distal tip;

wherein the shaft has a first flexibility adjacent the distal tip and a second flexibility adjacent the intermediate region; and

wherein the second flexibility is more flexible than the first flexibility.

12. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the shaft includes a third flexibility adjacent the proximal region and wherein the third flexibility is less flexible than the first and second flexibilities.

13. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the proximal region comprises stainless steel.

14. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the distal region comprises nickel-titanium alloy.

15. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the intermediate region comprises a polymer.

16. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the intermediate portion includes an outer surface and one or more notches defined in the outer surface.

17. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the intermediate portion includes a coil.

18. The medical device of claim 11, further comprising a sheath disposed over at least a portion of the shaft.

19. The medical device of claim 18, wherein the sheath includes a radiopaque material.

20. The medical device of claim 11, further comprising a coil disposed over at least a portion of the shaft.

21. A guidewire, comprising:

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

a push-force limiter region having a distal end, the push-force limiter coupled to the distal end of the distal portion;

a distal tip coupled to the distal end of the push-force limiter;

wherein the distal portion is more flexible than the proximal portion;

wherein the distal tip is more flexible than the distal portion; and

wherein the push-force limiter region is more flexible than the distal tip.

22. The guidewire of claim 21, wherein the distal portion includes one or more tapers.

23. The guidewire of claim 21, wherein the intermediate portion includes an outer surface and one or more notches defined in the outer surface.

24. The medical device of claim 21, wherein the intermediate portion includes a coil.

25. The guidewire of claim 21, further comprising a sheath disposed over at least a portion of the shaft.

26. The guidewire of claim 25, wherein the sheath includes a radiopaque material.

27. The guidewire of claim 25, wherein the sheath extends distally beyond the distal tip, and further comprising a distal shaping region coupled to and extending distally from the distal tip.

28. The guidewire of claim 21, further comprising a coil disposed over at least a portion of the shaft.

29. A medical device, comprising:

an elongate core wire having a proximal region, an intermediate region, and a distal region;

wherein the intermediate region is more flexible than the distal region; and

a covering disposed over at least a portion of the core wire.