Guidewire with adjustable stiffness
First Claim
1. A medical guidewire system comprising a first inner member having a first outer diameter, a second intermediate member having a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter, and a third outer member having a third diameter larger than the second outer diameter, the second member having a longitudinally extending opening to receive the first member for relative sliding movement with respect to the first member, the third outer member having a longitudinally extending opening to receive the second member for relative sliding movement with respect to the first and second member, the first member having a first stiffness, the third member having a third stiffness greater than the first stiffness, and the second member being movable with respect to the third member to provide the third member with a second stiffness greater than the third stiffness.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical guidewire system comprising a first inner member having a first outer diameter, a second intermediate member having a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter, and a third outer member having a third diameter larger than the second outer diameter of the second member. The second member has a longitudinal extending opening to receive the first member for sliding movement with respect to the first member and the third outer member has a longitudinally extending opening to receive the second member for sliding movement with respect to the first and second member. The first member has a first stiffness, the third member has a third stiffness greater than the first stiffness, and the second member is movable to stiffen the guidewire system.
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Citations
21 Claims
- 1. A medical guidewire system comprising a first inner member having a first outer diameter, a second intermediate member having a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter, and a third outer member having a third diameter larger than the second outer diameter, the second member having a longitudinally extending opening to receive the first member for relative sliding movement with respect to the first member, the third outer member having a longitudinally extending opening to receive the second member for relative sliding movement with respect to the first and second member, the first member having a first stiffness, the third member having a third stiffness greater than the first stiffness, and the second member being movable with respect to the third member to provide the third member with a second stiffness greater than the third stiffness.
- 15. A multi-component medical guidewire system comprising first, second and third coaxially positioned members relatively slidable with respect to one another, wherein the second member is coaxially positioned between the first and third members and has a sufficient stiffness to selectively increase the stiffness of the guidewire system upon positioning within a distal portion of the third member.
- 19. A multi-component guidewire system comprising first, second and third coaxially positioned members relatively slidable with respect to one another, each of the members having an engagement region at a proximal end portion, wherein the engagement region has an interlocking feature to interlock with another engagement region to fix the relative position of the respective members.
Specification