Variable stiffness guidewire
First Claim
1. A variable stiffness guidewire for navigating through body vessels, comprising:
- a tube having a proximal portion substantially comprised of a first material and a distal portion substantially comprised of a second material, wherein said second material is different from and more flexible at human body temperature than said first material;
an elongated corewire received by the tube and including a distal end, a proximal end, and a protruding portion extending beyond the distal portion of the tube; and
a coiled spring surrounding at least said protruding portion of said corewire, said spring having a distal end associated with said distal end of said corewire and a proximal end associated with said distal portion of said tube, wherein said corewire is axially movable with respect to said tube to adjust the total length of the spring and thus the stiffness of said spring.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A guidewire navigable through body vessels of a human subject for delivery of a catheter or the like is provided. The guidewire has a tube which receives a corewire that protrudes beyond a distal portion of the tube. The protruding portion of the corewire is surrounded by a spring and shapeable into a curve or arc. The cross-sectional shape of the spring may be varied in order to promote bending flexibility and curvature or to favor curvature of a chosen type. The corewire is axially movable with respect to the tube, which compresses or stretches the spring to change the stiffness of the spring. The tube has a proximal portion comprised of a relatively rigid material, such as stainless steel, while a distal portion is comprised of a more flexible material, such as a nitinol.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A variable stiffness guidewire for navigating through body vessels, comprising:
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a tube having a proximal portion substantially comprised of a first material and a distal portion substantially comprised of a second material, wherein said second material is different from and more flexible at human body temperature than said first material;
an elongated corewire received by the tube and including a distal end, a proximal end, and a protruding portion extending beyond the distal portion of the tube; and
a coiled spring surrounding at least said protruding portion of said corewire, said spring having a distal end associated with said distal end of said corewire and a proximal end associated with said distal portion of said tube, wherein said corewire is axially movable with respect to said tube to adjust the total length of the spring and thus the stiffness of said spring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A coiled spring for use at a distal tip of a medical guidewire having a tube and a corewire received by the tube and protruding from a distal portion of the tube, wherein the spring surrounds a protruding portion of the corewire and comprises:
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a length;
a proximal end;
a distal end; and
a plurality of coils having cross-sectional shapes, wherein the cross-sectional shape of at least a portion of one of said coils is substantially flat and the cross-sectional shape of at least a portion of another one of said coils is substantially circular. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification