LASER-ASSISTED GUIDEWIRE HAVING A VARIABLE STIFFNESS SHAFT
First Claim
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1. A fiber optic guidewire comprising:
- a hypotube having a proximal end and a distal end;
an adhesive plug within the distal end of the hypotube and having a distal face substantially flush with the distal end termination of the hypotube;
a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the hypotube, wherein the optical fibers extend through the adhesive plug and have a distal face terminating substantially at the distal face of the adhesive plug;
the adhesive plug surrounding the optical fibers and bonding the fibers within the distal end of the hypotube; and
the hypotube is comprised of at least one distal segment having an outer surface with a plurality of openings providing variable stiffness and tracking characteristics between at least one proximal segment and one distal segment of the guidewire.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention comprise a fiber optic guidewire having a hypotube with a plurality of openings that provide variable stiffness and tracking characteristics between at least one proximal segment and one distal segment of the guidewire. In some embodiments, the guidewire further comprises a mandrel disposed within the hypotube, the mandrel cooperating with the optical fibers to permit the distal end of the hypotube to be shaped as desired by a user. Methods of manufacturing and using the guidewire are also disclosed.
112 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A fiber optic guidewire comprising:
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a hypotube having a proximal end and a distal end;
an adhesive plug within the distal end of the hypotube and having a distal face substantially flush with the distal end termination of the hypotube;
a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the hypotube, wherein the optical fibers extend through the adhesive plug and have a distal face terminating substantially at the distal face of the adhesive plug;
the adhesive plug surrounding the optical fibers and bonding the fibers within the distal end of the hypotube; and
the hypotube is comprised of at least one distal segment having an outer surface with a plurality of openings providing variable stiffness and tracking characteristics between at least one proximal segment and one distal segment of the guidewire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A fiber optic guidewire comprising:
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a hypotube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a segment having an outer surface with a plurality of openings providing variable stiffness and tracking characteristics to the hypotube;
two or more optical fibers disposed within the hypotube; and
an adhesive plug within the hypotube that surrounds the optical fibers and bonds them to the hypotube.
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- 7. The guidewire of claim 7, wherein the adhesive plug extends radially into at least one of the outer surface openings of the hypotube.
- 13. The guidewire of claim 13, wherein the length of each hoop is constant.
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22. A method of manufacturing a guidewire, comprising:
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providing a hypotube having a proximal end and a distal end, and a plurality of apertures disposed in a wall of the hypotube between the proximal end and the distal end;
placing two or more optical fibers at least partially within the hypotube; and
introducing an adhesive material into the hypotube, and allowing the material to wick along the optical fibers and into at least one of the plurality of apertures of the wall of the hypotube, such that the adhesive material forms an adhesive plug that fixes the optical fibers relative to the hypotube. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification