Variable Stiffness Guidewire Systems

• US 20090131912A1
• Filed: 08/15/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wright-Ahn Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Wright-Ahn Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Wright, Jay Ralph, Ahn, Sam Seunghae
• Application Number:
  US12/192,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20090131912A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/524
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09116 Design of handles or shafts or gripping surfaces thereof for manipulating guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0915 having features for changing the stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

A variable-stiffness guidewire system comprises an elongated flexible guidewire having a body and a guidewire head that is coupled to the body. The guidewire head is slidably moveable with respect to a guidewire collar of the body to adjust a stiffness of at least a portion of the guidewire. An insert is coupled to the guidewire and positioned between the guidewire head and the guidewire collar. The insert has a cross-sectional dimension no larger than a diameter of the body. The insert is configured to maintain a distance of the guidewire head from the guidewire collar to maintain a desired stiffness in the at least a portion of the guidewire.

Claims

1. A variable-stiffness guidewire system comprising:

an elongated flexible 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 of the body via a tensioning wire to adjust a stiffness of at least a portion of the guidewire; and

an insert coupled to the guidewire and positioned between the guidewire head and the guidewire collar, the insert having a cross-sectional dimension no larger than a diameter of the body, the insert configured to maintain a distance of the guidewire head from the guidewire collar to maintain a desired stiffness in the at least a portion of the guidewire.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the insert further comprises a cylindrical body having a first end and a second end opposite from the first end, wherein the first end abuts the guidewire head and the second end abuts the guidewire collar.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the cylindrical body further comprises an aperture running through the body between the first and second ends, wherein at least a portion of the aperture is configured to receive a tensioning wire of the guidewire therein.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the cylindrical body further comprises a plurality of opposing faces adjacent to the aperture, each face extending between the first and second ends of the body, wherein a force applied on to either or both of the opposing faces increases a diameter of the aperture.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the cylindrical body is circular in cross-section.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the cylindrical body further comprises a first portion and a second portion hingedly coupled to one another and pivotably moveable with respect to one another between an open position and a closed position.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the cylindrical body further comprises a ridge feature extending from an end of the cylindrical body.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the cylindrical body further comprises a groove feature in an end of the cylindrical body.

9. A variable-stiffness guidewire system to be used with an external medical device, the system comprising:

an elongated flexible guidewire having a body and a guidewire head coupled to the body, the guidewire having 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 at least a portion of the guidewire, the body configured to move through a lumen of an external medical device; and

an insert coupled to the guidewire and positioned between the guidewire head and the guidewire collar to maintain a desired stiffness in the at least a portion of the guidewire, the insert having a cross-sectional dimension such that a lumen of an external medical device may be passed over the guidewire while the insert is coupled therewith.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the insert further comprises a cylindrical body having a first end and a second end opposite from the first end, wherein the first end abuts the guidewire head and the second end abuts the guidewire collar.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the cylindrical body further comprises an aperture running through the body between the first and second ends, wherein at least a portion of the aperture is configured to receive a tensioning wire of the guidewire therein.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the cylindrical body further comprises a plurality of opposing faces adjacent to the aperture, each face extending between the first and second ends of the body, wherein a force applied on to either or both of the opposing faces increases a diameter of the aperture.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the cylindrical body is circular in cross-section.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the cylindrical body further comprises a first portion and a second portion hingedly coupled to one another and pivotably moveable with respect to one another between an open position and a closed position.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the cylindrical body further comprises a ridge feature extending from an end of the cylindrical body.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the cylindrical body further comprises a groove feature in an end of the cylindrical body.

17. A tension maintaining insert for use with a variable-stiffness guidewire having a guidewire head moveable with respect to a guidewire collar of a guidewire body to control a stiffness of the guidewire, the insert comprising:

a cylindrical body having a cross-sectional dimension no larger than a diameter of a body of a guidewire, the cylindrical body configured to be positioned between the guidewire head and the guidewire collar to maintain a stiffness of the guidewire.

18. The insert of claim 17, wherein the cylindrical body further comprises a first end and a second end opposite from the first end, wherein the first end abuts the guidewire head and the second end abuts the guidewire collar.

19. The insert of claim 18, wherein the cylindrical body further comprises an aperture running through the body between the first and second ends, wherein at least a portion of the aperture is configured to receive a tensioning wire of the guidewire therein.

20. The insert of claim 19, wherein the cylindrical body further comprises a plurality of opposing faces adjacent to the aperture, each face extending between the first and second ends of the body, wherein a force applied on to either or both of the opposing faces increases a diameter of the aperture.