Guidewire with adjustable stiffness
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
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.
122 Citations
43 Claims
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1-17. -17. (canceled)
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18. A method of inserting a catheter into a vascular system of a patient comprising:
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a) providing a guidewire system having an inner member, a first outer diameter and a first stiffness, an outer member having a third diameter larger than the first diameter and a third stiffness, and a stiffener member positioned between the inner and outer members and having a handle and a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter and smaller than the third diameter and having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness; b) selectively adjusting if desired the relative positions of the members during advancement of the guidewire system into the vascular system to a surgical site; and c) inserting a catheter over the outer member without removing the handle of the stiffener member. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of adjusting the stiffness of a guidewire system to three different stiffnesses, the method comprising:
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a) providing a guidewire system; b) changing a diameter of the guidewire system by changing a distal region of the guidewire system between a first guidewire diameter and a second guidewire diameter, the second guidewire diameter being greater than the first guidewire diameter, wherein the step of changing the guidewire diameter changes a stiffness of a distal region of the guidewire system between a first stiffness and a second stiffness, the second stiffness being greater than the first stiffness; and c) changing the stiffness of the guidewire system to a third stiffness greater than the second stiffness without changing the guidewire diameter of the distal region of the guidewire system. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. 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 system having an inner member having a first outer diameter and a first stiffness, an outer member having a third diameter larger than the first diameter and a third stiffness, and a stiffener member positioned between the inner and outer members and having a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter and smaller than the third diameter and having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness; b) changing a diameter of a distal region of the guidewire system during insertion through the vascular system by adjusting the relative position of the inner member and outer member; and c) increasing the stiffness of the outer member by advancing the stiffener member within the outer member. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of adjusting the stiffness of a guidewire system extending into the vascular system of a patient, the method comprising:
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a) providing a guidewire system having an inner core wire having a first outer diameter and a first stiffness, an outer slotted tube having a third diameter larger than the first diameter and a third stiffness, and a slotted stiffener tube 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; and c) during the advancing step (b), selectively changing if desired the relative positions of the core wire, the inner slotted tube and the outer slotted tube. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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42. 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 system having an inner member having a first outer diameter and a first stiffness, an outer member having a third diameter larger than the first diameter and a third stiffness, and a stiffener member positioned between the inner and outer members and having a second outer diameter larger than the first outer diameter and smaller than the third diameter and having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness; b) selectively changing if desired the relative position of the inner member and stiffener member; and c) selectively locking if desired the inner member and stiffener member in a fixed position with respect to one another when the inner member is in one of a series of positions relative to the stiffener member. - View Dependent Claims (43)
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Specification