Variable flexibility wire guide

• US 20060064036A1
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cook Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Osborne, Thomas A., Barr, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US10/946,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20060064036A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09075 having a core without a coil possibly combined with a sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104

Abstract

The present invention provides a wire guide having a wire core and a braided sheath. The wire core includes a proximal end and distal end, wherein the braided sheath is attached to the distal end of the wire core and serves as a flexible pulling section. The braided sheath is woven of a plurality of strands and may be made of various material based on the application, such as stainless steel, a shape memory alloy, or a radiopaque material. The wire guide has a flexible tip at the proximal end opposite the flexible pulling section. A stiff section is provided between the flexible tip and the flexible pulling section to allow manipulation of the wire guide through a body lumen. Proximate the distal end of the wire core a tapered section is provided to increase flexibility of the wire guide toward the distal end. The braided sheath is received over and attached to the wire core. In addition, a shoulder is provided in the wire core providing a smooth transition from the wire core to the braided section. The braided sheath extends from the shoulder beyond the distal end of the wire core.

Claims

1. A wire guide for introducing medical devices into a patient, the wire guide comprising:

a core member having a first and second end; and

a braided member woven of a plurality of strands, the braided member being affixed to the core member and extending from a first end of the core member to provide a flexible end section of the wire guide.

2. The wire guide of claim 1, wherein the braided member is soldered to the first end of the core member.

3. The wire guide of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive configured to attach the braided member to the first end of the core member.

4. The wire guide of claim 1, wherein a portion of the braided member is received over the core member.

5. The wire guide of claim 1, wherein the core member includes a shoulder and a height of the shoulder is about the thickness of the braided member thereby providing a smooth transition from the core member to the braided member.

6. The wire guide of claim 5, wherein the braided member is located around the core member and extends from the shoulder beyond the first end of the core member.

7. The wire guide of claim 1, further comprising a lubricious coating surrounding the core member.

8. The wire guide of claim 7, wherein the lubricious coating is a hydrophilic coating.

9. The wire guide of claim 1, wherein the core member includes a first tapered section proximal the braided member, the first tapered section being configured to increase flexibility toward the first end of the core member.

10. The wire guide of claim 9, wherein the core member includes a second tapered section, configured to increase flexibility toward the second end of the core member.

11. The wire guide of claim 10, wherein the core member includes a stiff section between the first tapered section and the second tapered section.

12. The wire guide of claim 11, wherein the stiff section is between about 50 to 200 cm in length.

13. The wire guide of claim 10, wherein a distance from the second tapered section to the second end of the core member is between about 3 and 5 cm.

14. The wire guide of claim 9, wherein a distance including the first tapered section and extending to an end of the braided member is between about 40 and 80 cm.

15. The wire guide of claim 9, wherein the first tapered section is between about 5 and 15 cm.

16. The wire guide of claim 9, wherein a distance from the first tapered section to the first end of the core member is between about 5 and 15 cm.

17. The wire guide of claim 1, wherein the braided member extends beyond the first end of the core member by a distance of between about 30 and 50 cm.

18. The wire guide of claim 1, further comprising a coil member disposed about the second end of the core member.

19. The wire guide of claim 18, wherein the coil member is a platinum coil.

20. The wire guide of claim 18, wherein the coil member is soldered to the core member.

21. The wire guide of claim 1, wherein the core member is comprised of a shape memory alloy.

22. The wire guide of claim 21, wherein the core member is comprised of Nitinol.

23. The wire guide of claim 1, wherein the plurality of strands are comprised of stainless steel.

24. The wire guide of claim 1, wherein the plurality of strands are comprised of a shape memory alloy.

25. The wire guide of claim 24, wherein the plurality of strands are comprised of Nitinol.

26. The wire guide of claim 1, wherein the plurality of strands are comprised of a radiopaque material.

27. The wire guide of claim 1, further comprising a coil member extending along the length of the core member.

28. The wire guide of claim 27, wherein braided member is attached to the coil member.

29. A wire guide for introducing medical devices into a patient, the wire guide comprising:

a core member having a first and second end;

a braided member woven of a plurality of strands, the braided member being affixed to the core member and extending from a first end of the core member to provide a flexible end section of the wire guide; and

a sleeve surrounding the core member and the braided member.

30. The wire guide of claim 29, wherein the sleeve is a polyurethane layer surrounding the core member and braided member.

31. The wire guide of claim 29, further comprising a lubricious coating surrounding the core member.

32. The wire guide of claim 31, wherein the lubricious coating is a hydrophilic coating.