Guidewire with adjustable 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.
32 Citations
64 Claims
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1-21. -21. (canceled)
- 22. A medical guidewire system comprising a core wire, a first tube and a second tube, the first tube having a second diameter larger than a first diameter of the core wire and including a distal region having a greater flexibility than a flexibility of a proximal region, the second tube having a third diameter larger than the second diameter, the second tube having a distal region having a greater flexibility than a flexibility of a proximal region, the first tube having a longitudinally extending opening to receive the core wire for relative sliding movement, the second tube having a longitudinally extending opening to receive the first tube for relative sliding movement, the first tube configured to increase the stiffness of a distal end of the second tube.
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32. A medical guidewire system comprising:
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an inner member having a first diameter and a first stiffness; a stiffener member having a second diameter larger than the first diameter and having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness; and an outer member having a third diameter larger than the second diameter and having a third stiffness greater than the first stiffness and less than the second stiffness, the stiffener member being slidable over the inner member and slidable within the outer member to increase the stiffness of the outer member. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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36. A medical guidewire system comprising:
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an inner member having a first diameter and a first stiffness; a stiffener member having a proximal end and a distal end and a second diameter larger than the first diameter, the stiffener having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness; and an outer member having a third diameter larger than the second diameter and having a third stiffness greater than the first stiffness, the outer member having a proximal end and a distal end, the stiffener being positioned within the outer member for relative sliding movement for positioning in a proximal position with respect to the outer member and a fully advanced distal position with respect to the outer member, wherein in the distal position a distalmost tip of the stiffener member does not extend distal of a distalmost tip of the outer member. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A medical guidewire system comprising:
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an inner member having a first diameter and a first stiffness; a stiffener member having a second diameter larger than the first diameter and having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness; and an outer member having a third diameter larger than the second diameter, the outer member having a lumen dimensioned to receive the stiffener member, a distal portion of the lumen having a first transverse dimension less than a second transverse dimension of a more proximal portion to reduce a gap between the inner member and outer member when the inner member is advanced so a distalmost tip extends distally of a distalmost tip of the outer member, the first transverse dimension being less than the second diameter of the stiffener member. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 50, 51)
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46. A medical guidewire system comprising:
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an inner member having a first diameter and a first stiffness, the inner member being dimensioned for passage of a catheter thereover; an intermediate member having a second handle, a second diameter larger than the first diameter and having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness; and an outer member having a third handle, a third diameter larger than the second diameter and a third stiffness greater than the first stiffness, the outer member having a lumen dimensioned to receive the stiffener, wherein the first, second and third handles are dimensioned to receive a catheter thereover. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49)
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52. A medical guidewire system comprising:
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an inner member having a first diameter and a first stiffness; a stiffener member having a second diameter larger than the first diameter and having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness, the stiffener member further including a clamping member to apply a clamping force to a portion of the inner member to fix the position of the inner member with respect to the stiffener member; and an outer member having a third diameter larger than the second diameter and having a third stiffness greater than the first stiffness, the outer member having a lumen dimensioned to receive the stiffener member. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56)
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- 57. A medical guidewire system having a transverse dimension and comprising an inner member, an intermediate member and an outer member, the guidewire having first, second and third guidewire stiffnesses, wherein the first guidewire stiffness is achieved by advancement of a distalmost tip of the inner member beyond a distalmost tip of the outer member, the second guidewire stiffness is achieved by the inner member and intermediate member being positioned in a retracted position with respect to the outer member, and the third guidewire stiffness is achieved by advancing the intermediate member and without changing the transverse dimension of the guidewire, the third guidewire stiffness being greater than the second guidewire stiffness.
- 63. 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 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, wherein the inner member and stiffener member are movable relative to one another and the inner member and stiffener member are selectively lockable to fix a position of the inner member relative to the stiffener member in a position proximal to a fully advanced position with respect to the outer member.
Specification