Lockable guide wire tip protector

• US 20050234369A1
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medical Components, Inc.
• Inventors: Voorhees, Earl
• Application Number:
  US11/105,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20050234369A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09041 Mechanisms for insertion of guide wires

Abstract

A guide wire tip protector is disclosed. The protector includes a body having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end includes a cavity sized to accept a curved distal end of a guide wire and a distal end of a guide wire advancer. The proximal end comprises an elongated portion that releasably engages one of a first guide wire advancer having a generally elongated body and a second guide wire advancer having a ring portion surrounding a generally tubular body. A guide wire assembly incorporating the tip protector is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A guide wire tip protector comprising a body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a cavity sized to accepted a curved distal end of a guide wire and a distal end of a guide wire advancer, and wherein the proximal end comprises an elongated portion having means for releasably engaging one of a first guide wire advancer having a generally elongated body and a second guide wire advancer having a ring portion surrounding a generally tubular body.

2. The guide wire tip protector according to claim 1, further comprising an elongated body extending between the proximal end and the distal end.

3. The guide wire tip protector according to claim 2, wherein the elongated body comprises a generally concave cross section.

4. The guide wire tip protector according to claim 1, wherein the cavity comprises an arcuate distal end.

5. The guide wire tip protector according to claim 1, wherein the cavity comprises an expanded portion sized to accept the distal end of the guide wire advancer.

6. A guide wire tip protector comprising a body having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, wherein the distal portion includes an elongated cavity extending therein and wherein the proximal portion includes an elongated member having a generally arcuate concave surface and a plurality of fingers extending therefrom generally toward the longitudinal axis, wherein a first channel is formed between a first and a second of the plurality of fingers on a first side of the longitudinal axis and a second channel is formed between a third and a fourth of the plurality of fingers on a second side of the longitudinal axis.

7. The guide wire tip protector according to claim 6, further comprising an elongated body extending between the proximal portion and the distal portion.

8. The guide wire tip protector according to claim 7, wherein the elongated body comprises a generally concave cross section.

9. The guide wire tip protector according to claim 6, wherein the cavity comprises an arcuate distal end.

10. The guide wire tip protector according to claim 6, wherein the cavity comprises an expanded portion sized to accept the distal end of the guide wire advancer.

11. A guide wire assembly comprising:

a guide wire tube having a distal tube end;

a guide wire advancer extending from the distal tube end;

a guide wire having a proximal guide wire end disposed in the tube and a distal guide wire end extending distally of the tube and along a length of the guide wire advancer, wherein the distal guide wire end comprises a distal guide wire tip extending distally of the guide wire advancer; and

a guide wire tip protector releasably connected to the guide wire advancer, wherein the distal guide wire tip is disposed within the guide wire tip protector.

12. The guide wire assembly according to claim 11, wherein the guide wire advancer comprises one of a first guide wire advancer having a generally elongated body and a second guide wire advancer having a ring portion surrounding a generally tubular body.

13. The guide wire assembly according to claim 11, wherein the guide wire tip protector comprises a body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a cavity sized to accepted a curved distal end of a guide wire and a distal end of a guide wire advancer, and wherein the proximal end comprises an elongated portion having means for releasably engaging one of a first guide wire advancer having a generally elongated body and a second guide wire advancer having a ring portion surrounding a generally tubular body.

14. The guide wire tip protector according to claim 13, further comprising an elongated body extending between the proximal end and the distal end.

15. The guide wire tip protector according to claim 14, wherein the elongated body comprises a generally concave cross section.

16. The guide wire tip protector according to claim 13, wherein the cavity comprises an arcuate distal end.

17. The guide wire tip protector according to claim 13, wherein the cavity comprises an expanded portion sized to accept the distal end of the guide wire advancer.