Guidewire with adjustable stiffness
First Claim
1. A method of adjusting the stiffness and size of a guidewire without full withdrawal of the guidewire from a patient'"'"'s vascular system, the method comprising:
- a) providing a guidewire system comprising an inner member having a first outer diameter and a first stiffness, an outer member having a third larger diameter and a third stiffness, and a stiffener positioned between the inner and outer members and having a second outer diameter larger than the first diameter and smaller than the third diameter;
b) advancing the guidewire system into the vascular system with the outer member and stiffener in the retracted position to expose a substantial length of the inner member to expose a smaller member diameter;
c) after advancement of the guidewire system through the vascular system in step (b), selectively changing the relative position of the outer member and inner member to provide a stiffer member to increase the pushability of the guidewire system if desired; and
d) thereafter, if desired, selectively advancing the stiffener to further increase the stiffness of the guidewire system to a second stiffness greater than the third stiffness.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of adjusting the stiffness and size of a guidewire without full withdrawal of the guidewire from a patient'"'"'s vascular system comprising providing a guidewire system comprising an inner member having a first outer diameter and a first stiffness, an outer member having a third larger diameter and a third stiffness, and a stiffener positioned between the inner and outer members and having a second outer diameter larger than the first diameter and smaller than the third diameter. The method includes selectively changing the relative positions of the members to alter the pushability and stiffness of the guidewire system.
84 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of adjusting the stiffness and size of a guidewire without full withdrawal of the guidewire from a patient'"'"'s vascular system, the method comprising:
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a) providing a guidewire system comprising an inner member having a first outer diameter and a first stiffness, an outer member having a third larger diameter and a third stiffness, and a stiffener positioned between the inner and outer members and having a second outer diameter larger than the first diameter and smaller than the third diameter; b) advancing the guidewire system into the vascular system with the outer member and stiffener in the retracted position to expose a substantial length of the inner member to expose a smaller member diameter; c) after advancement of the guidewire system through the vascular system in step (b), selectively changing the relative position of the outer member and inner member to provide a stiffer member to increase the pushability of the guidewire system if desired; and d) thereafter, if desired, selectively advancing the stiffener to further increase the stiffness of the guidewire system to a second stiffness greater than the third stiffness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of adjusting the stiffness of a guidewire extending into the vascular system of a patient, the method comprising:
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a) providing a guidewire having an inner member having a first outer diameter and a first stiffness, an outer member having a third larger diameter and a third stiffness, and a stiffener positioned between the inner and outer members and having a second outer diameter larger than the first diameter and smaller than the third diameter; b) advancing the guidewire into the vascular system from a remote site with the outer member and stiffener in the retracted position to expose a substantial length of the inner member; c) when encountering a tortuous vessel portion wherein the inner member lacks the requisite pushability, changing the relative positions of the inner member and the outer member without removing the inner member from the patient so the outer member covers a distal portion of the inner member to create a stiffer guidewire; and d) when encountering a restricted passage in a portion of the vessel, changing the relative positions of the inner member and outer member to expose at least a portion of the covered distal portion of the inner member. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of adjusting the stiffness of a guidewire extending into the vascular system of a patient, the method comprising:
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a) providing a guidewire having an inner member having a first outer diameter and a first stiffness, an outer member having a third larger diameter and a third stiffness, and a stiffener positioned between the inner and outer members and having a second outer diameter larger than the first diameter and smaller than the third diameter; b) advancing the guidewire into the vascular system from a remote site with the outer member in the extended position and the stiffener and inner member in an unexposed retracted position; c) when encountering a vessel portion wherein the outer member is too large for advancement or lacks the requisite flexibility, changing the relative positions of the inner member and the outer member without removing the outer member from the patient so a portion of the inner member is exposed; and d) when encountering a tortuous vessel portion wherein the inner member lacks the requisite pushability, changing the relative positions of the inner member and outer member to retract the inner member to leave the outer member as the distalmost region of the guidewire. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification