HIGH-MODULUS SUPERELASTIC ALLOY WIRE FOR MEDICAL AND DENTAL PURPOSES

• US 20110054351A1
• Filed: 08/31/2009
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heraeus Medical Components LLC (Heraeus Holding GMBH)
• Original Assignee: NeoMetrics, Inc. (Natus Medical Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fox, Karl, Albers, Jason, Liebl, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,801,633 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/20 Arch wires A61C7/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2400/16 Materials with shape-memory or superelastic properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/06 Titanium or titanium alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/50 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/022 Metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/14 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/143 Stabilizers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09133 having specific material compositions or coatings; Materials with specific mechanical behaviours, e.g. stiffness, strength to transmit torque
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09141 made of shape memory alloys which take a particular shape at a certain temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/12 Shape memory
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 2201/01 Shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: C21D 2201/02 Superplasticity
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 19/03 based on nickel
• CPC Class Codes: C22F 1/10 of nickel or cobalt or alloys based thereon
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/294 including metal or compound thereof [excluding glass, ceramic and asbestos]

Abstract

A wire used in the medical field for guiding purposes, as well as in other fields, such as in the field of orthodontics for teeth aligning purposes. The wire, when prepared for use in such applications, exhibits an innovative blend of advantageous properties, including enhanced kink resistance over stainless steel wires and enhanced stiffness over Nitinol wires, which enhance its use as a medical guidewire or stylet, and further, as an arch wire in orthodontia applications.

Claims

1. A wire used for one of medical or orthodontia purposes, comprising an elongated, flexible metal wire core at least partially formed of a high-modulus superelastic alloy, the alloy having both an upper plateau (UP) and a lower plateau (LP) from a 3-point bend test that are respectively greater than a UP and a LP from same 3-point bend test of binary Nitinol alloy with substantially similar diameter as the wire core.

2. The wire of claim 1, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 45% greater than the UP of the binary Nitinol alloy.

3. The wire of claim 2, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 60% greater than the UP of the binary Nitinol alloy.

4. The wire of claim 3, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 80% greater than the UP of the binary Nitinol alloy.

5. The wire of claim 1, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 45% of peak value of 304 stainless steel alloy of substantially similar diameter of the wire core.

6. The wire of claim 5, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 60% of peak value of a stainless steel alloy of substantially similar diameter of the wire core.

7. The wire of claim 6, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 75% of peak value of a stainless steel alloy of substantially similar diameter of the wire core.

8. The wire of claim 1, wherein the wire core is part of a medical guidewire or stylet.

9. The wire of claim 1, wherein the wire core comprises an orthodontia arch wire.

10. A wire used for one of medical or orthodontia purposes, comprising an elongated, flexible metal wire core at least partially formed of a high-modulus superelastic alloy, the alloy having both an upper plateau (UP) and a lower plateau (LP) from a 3-point bend test that are respectively greater than UP and LP from same 3-point bend test of binary Nitinol alloy with substantially similar diameter as the wire core, the high-modulus superelastic alloy comprising a trinary alloy consisting of Nickel, Titanium, and Cobalt.

11. The wire of claim 10, wherein the trinary alloy has a weight percentage of Cobalt less than or equal to 2% and weight percentages of Nickel and of Titanium greater than 40%.

12. The wire of claim 10, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 45% greater than the UP of the binary Nitinol alloy.

13. The wire of claim 12, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 80% greater than the UP of the binary Nitinol alloy.

14. The wire of claim 10, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 45% of peak value of 304 stainless steel alloy of substantially similar diameter of the wire core.

15. The wire of claim 14, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 75% of peak value of a stainless steel alloy of substantially similar diameter of the wire core.

16. A wire used for one of medical or orthodontia purposes, comprising an elongated, flexible metal wire core solely formed of a high-modulus superelastic alloy, the alloy having both an upper plateau (UP) and a lower plateau (LP) from a 3-point bend test that are respectively greater than a UP and a LP of binary Nitinol alloy with substantially similar diameter as the wire core, the wire core comprising a single continuous body.

17. The medical guidewire of claim 16, wherein the high-modulus superelastic alloy comprises a trinary alloy consisting of Nickel, Titanium, and Cobalt.

18. The wire of claim 17, wherein the trinary alloy has a weight percentage of Cobalt less than or equal to 2% and weight percentages of Nickel and of Titanium greater than 40%.

19. The wire of claim 18, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 45% greater than the UP of the binary Nitinol alloy.

20. The wire of claim 19, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 80% greater than the UP of the binary Nitinol alloy.

21. The wire of claim 16, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 45% of peak value of 304 stainless steel alloy of substantially similar diameter of the wire core.

22. The wire of claim 21, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 75% of peak value of a stainless steel alloy of substantially similar diameter of the wire core.

23. A wire used for one of medical or orthodontia purposes, comprising an elongated, flexible metal wire core solely formed of a high-modulus superelastic alloy, the alloy having both an upper plateau (UP) and a lower plateau (LP) from a 3-point bend test that are respectively greater than a UP and a LP of binary Nitinol alloy with substantially similar diameter as the wire core, the high-modulus superelastic alloy comprising a trinary alloy consisting of Nickel, Titanium, and Cobalt, the wire core comprising a single continuous body.

24. The wire of claim 23, wherein the high-modulus superelastic alloy comprises a trinary alloy consisting of Nickel, Titanium, and Cobalt.

25. The wire of claim 24, wherein the trinary alloy has a weight percentage of Cobalt less than or equal to 2% and weight percentages of Nickel and of Titanium greater than 40%.

26. The wire of claim 23, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 45% greater than the UP of the binary Nitinol alloy.

27. The wire of claim 26, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 80% greater than the UP of the binary Nitinol alloy.

28. The wire of claim 23, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 45% of peak value of 304 stainless steel alloy of substantially similar diameter of the wire core.

29. The wire of claim 26, wherein the UP of the high-modulus superelastic alloy is at least 75% of peak value of a stainless steel alloy of substantially similar diameter of the wire core.