Articulating steerable wire guide

• US 20070123804A1
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wilson-Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hardin, David, Carter, Matthew, Ayala, Juan
• Granted Patent: US 8,070,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0163 Looped catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09175 having specific characteristics at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09033 with fixed mandrils, e.g. mandrils fixed to tip; Tensionable wires

Abstract

A steerable wire guide comprises first and second members interconnected to form a unitary composite structure. The members slide relative to each other such that the leading portion of the composite structure bends in a first or second direction. The composite structure comprises a soft body portion at its distal end and a rigid body portion at its proximal end. Various cross-sections are disclosed. In an alternate embodiment, the wire guide comprises a first guiding wire section, a wire loop section and a second guiding wire section, the wire component being folded back on itself to form a generally central wire loop section; and a tubular sheath surrounding the first guiding wire section and the second guiding wire section. The first and second members or guiding wire sections can be connected to a removable handle to facilitate control and maneuverability of the wire guide.

Claims

1. A steerable wire guide, comprising:

an elongated composite structure having a longitudinal axis, comprising a leading portion and a body portion, the leading portion comprising a tip and the body portion comprising a rigid body;

the body portion having a first member and a second member, the first member and second member of the body portion being axially slidably movable relative to each other and both connected to the unitary tip, such that when the second member of the body portion advances relative to the first member of the body portion, the leading portion is directed in a first direction at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated composite structure; and

when the first member of the body portion advances relative to the second member of the body portion, the leading portion is directed in a second direction, opposite to the first direction and at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated composite structure;

wherein the first member and second member together have a substantially circular cross section.

2. The steerable wire guide of claim 1, further comprising a tubular casing around the first and second members.

3. The steerable wire guide of claim 1, wherein the first member and second member are interlocking such that the first and second members are in communication.

4. The steerable wire guide of claim 1, further comprising a radiopaque marker on the composite structure.

5. The steerable wire guide of claim 1, wherein the combined diameter of the first and second members is substantially about 1 millimeter.

6. The steerable wire guide of claim 1, further comprising a coating on at least a portion of the composite structure.

7. The steerable wire guide of claim 1, further comprising a molded loop at the distal end of the composite structure.

8. The steerable wire guide of claim 1, where the body portion comprises at least three members, the first member, second member and third member being axially slidably movable relative to each other and connected to the unitary tip, such that when the first member of the body portion advances relative to the second and third members, the leading portion is directed in a first direction at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated composite structure;

when the second member of the body portion advances relative to the first and third members of the body portion, the leading portion is directed in a second direction, at an angle relative to the first direction and at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated composite structure; and

when the third member of the body portion advances relative to the first and second members of the body portion, the leading portion is directed in a third direction, at an angle relative to the first direction, at an angle relative to the second direction, and at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated composite structure.

9. A steerable wire guide having a longitudinal axis, comprising:

a composite structure comprising a first member and a second member defining a leading portion at a first end of the composite structure and an elongated body portion extending from the first end, wherein the first member and second member are movable relative to each other such that movement of the first member relative to the second member in a first direction advances the leading portion, and such that movement of the second member relative to the first member in a second direction retracts the leading portion, and

wherein the first and second members have interlocking components such that the first member is configured to be securely but slidably connected to the second member.

10. The steerable wire guide of claim 9, wherein the first and second members are in an interlocking relationship holding them together without a casing.

11. The steerable wire guide of claim 9, further comprising a radiopaque marker on the composite structure.

12. The steerable wire guide of claim 9, further comprising a loop located at the leading portion of the composite structure.

13. An articulating steerable wire guide having a longitudinal axis, comprising:

a composite structure comprising a substantially soft leading portion and a substantially rigid body portion, the soft leading portion comprising a tip and the body portion comprising interlocking first and second members, the soft body portion being located at the distal end of the composite structure and the rigid portion being located at the proximal end of the composite structure; and

wherein the first and second interlocking members are concurrently slidably movable relative to each other, such that when the first and second members slide relative to each other with the first member of the body portion advancing, the leading portion at the distal end of the composite structure bends in a first direction at a first angle relative to the longitudinal axis; and

when the first and second members slide relative to each other with the second member of the body portion advancing, the leading portion at the distal end of the composite structure bends in a second direction at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

14. The steerable wire guide of claim 13, wherein the circumference of the composite structure is about 1 millimeter.

15. The steerable wire guide of claim 13, wherein the leading portion is substantially between about 5 cm and 10 cm in length.

16. The steerable wire guide of claim 13, wherein the tip is about 7 mm in length.

17. The steerable wire guide of claim 13, further comprising a radiopaque marker on the composite structure.

18. The steerable wire guide of claim 13, wherein the cross section of the interlocking female and male members is substantially circular.

19. The steerable wire guide of claim 18, further comprising a tubular casing around the interlocking female and male members.

20. The steerable wire guide of claim 13, wherein the tip has a loop configuration.

21. The steerable wire guide of claims 13, wherein the cross section of the interlocking female and male members is substantially rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal or trapezoidal.

22. A steerable wire guide comprising an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, a leading portion and a body portion, the elongate member further comprising

a wire component comprising a first guiding wire section, a wire loop section and a second guiding wire section, the wire component being folded back on itself to form the wire loop section in a generally central part of the wire component, and

a tubular sheath surrounding the first guiding wire section and the second guiding wire section to form the body portion of the elongate member, and the wire loop section of the wire component constituting the leading portion of the elongate member;

the first and second guiding wire sections being movable relative to each other and with respect to the tubular sheath such that;

relative distal movement of the first guiding wire section with respect to the second guiding wire section directs the leading portion in a first direction at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis,

relative distal movement of the second guiding wire section with respect to the first guiding wire section directs the leading portion in a second direction different from the first direction,

concurrent distal movement of the first and second guiding wire sections moves the leading portion in a third direction, and

concurrent proximal movement of the first and second guiding wire sections moves the leading portion in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction;

wherein the first direction is away from a first side of the longitudinal axis and the second direction is away from a second side of the longitudinal axis, the first side generally being opposite the second side.

23. The steerable wire-guide of claim 22, further comprising a closure member closing the wire loop section.

24. The steerable wire-guide of claim 22, wherein a part of the loop is ground smaller in one portion of the wall of the wire loop section.