Variable Stiffness Guidewire Systems
First Claim
1. A variable-stiffness guidewire system comprising:
- an elongated flexible guidewire, the guidewire having a body and a guidewire head coupled to the body, the guidewire including a guidewire collar proximal to the guidewire head, the guidewire head slidably moveable with respect to the guidewire collar via a tensioning wire to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire; and
a tool configured to engage the guidewire head and move the guidewire head a desired distance from the guidewire collar to achieve a desired stiffness, the tool having a first mechanism configured to selectively deploy an insert to be positioned between the guidewire head and the guidewire collar, wherein the insert maintains the desired stiffness of the guidewire.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A variable-stiffness guidewire system which comprises an elongated flexible guidewire. The guidewire has a body and a guidewire head coupled to the body. The guidewire head is slidably moveable with respect to a guidewire collar of the body to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire. A tool is utilized with the guidewire to engage the guidewire head and move the guidewire head a desired distance from the guidewire collar to achieve a desired stiffness. The tool has a first mechanism that is configured to selectively deploy an insert to be positioned between the guidewire head and the guidewire collar. The insert maintains the desired stiffness of the guidewire.
49 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A variable-stiffness guidewire system comprising:
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an elongated flexible guidewire, the guidewire having a body and a guidewire head coupled to the body, the guidewire including a guidewire collar proximal to the guidewire head, the guidewire head slidably moveable with respect to the guidewire collar via a tensioning wire to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire; and a tool configured to engage the guidewire head and move the guidewire head a desired distance from the guidewire collar to achieve a desired stiffness, the tool having a first mechanism configured to selectively deploy an insert to be positioned between the guidewire head and the guidewire collar, wherein the insert maintains the desired stiffness of the guidewire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A tool for use with a variable-stiffness guidewire having a guidewire head and a guidewire collar, the tool comprising:
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a body; an engaging mechanism coupled to the body and adapted to engage a guidewire head of a guidewire; an actuator coupled to body and configured to move the engaging mechanism and the guidewire head away from a guidewire collar a first distance to achieve a first stiffness of at least a portion of the guidewire; and a mechanism coupled to the body and configured to selectively remove an insert coupled to the guidewire and having a length dimension substantially equal to the first distance positioned between the guidewire head and the guidewire collar to maintain the first stiffness in the at least a portion of the guidewire. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20)
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15. A tool for use with a variable-stiffness guidewire having a guidewire head and a guidewire collar, the tool comprising:
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a body; an engaging mechanism coupled to the body and adapted to engage a guidewire head of a guidewire; an actuator coupled to body and configured to move the engaging mechanism and the guidewire head away from a guidewire collar a first distance to achieve a first stiffness of at least a portion of the guidewire; and a mechanism coupled to the body and configured to selectively deploy an insert having a length dimension substantially equal to the first distance between the guidewire head and the guidewire collar, wherein the insert maintains the first stiffness in at least a portion of the guidewire. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification