Composite Braided Guidewire

• US 20110144625A1
• Filed: 02/07/2011
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Target Therapeutics, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Target Therapeutics, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Mirigian, Gregory E., Engelson, Erik T., Schaller, Laurent, Carrison, Harold F.
• Application Number:
  US13/022,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20110144625A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09175 having specific characteristics at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

This is a composite guidewire for use with a catheter for accessing a targeted site in a lumen system of a patient'"'"'s body. The guidewire core or guidewire section may be of a stainless steel or a high elasticity metal alloy, preferably a Ni—Ti alloy, also preferably having specified physical parameters. The composite guidewire assembly is especially useful for accessing peripheral or soft tissue targets. The invention includes multi-section guidewire assemblies having super-elastic alloy or stainless steel ribbon braided reinforcements along a least a portion of the core. A variation of the inventive guidewire includes a braid and a tie layer (and one or more lubricious polymers on the tie layer exterior) to enhance the guidewire'"'"'s suitability for use within catheters and within the interior of vascular lumen.

Claims

1. A guidewire suitable for guiding a catheter within a body lumen, comprising:

an elongated, flexible core wire having a first section including a stainless steel alloy, and a second section including a super-elastic alloy; and

a tubular braid covering at least a portion of the core wire, the tubular braid having a length extending across a join between the first and second sections.

2. The guidewire of claim 1, further comprising a third section including a stainless steel alloy.

3. The guidewire of claim 2, wherein the braid extends across a join between the second and third sections.

4. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the braid includes a super-elastic alloy.

5. The guidewire of claim 4, further comprising a polymeric layer situated exterior to at least a portion of the braid.

6. The guidewire of claim 5, wherein the polymeric layer comprises a hydrophilic polymer.

7. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the tubular braid is coaxially disposed about the core wire such that the maximum radial gap between the tubular braid and the core wire is less than the wall thickness of the tubular braid along the entire length of the tubular braid.

8. The guidewire of claim 7, wherein the braid is in direct contact with the core wire along the length of the braid.

9. The guidewire of claim 8, wherein the braid is formed by directly winding the braid onto the core wire.

10. The guidewire of claim 1, further comprising a layer of polymer between the braid and the core wire that bonds the braid to the core wire.

11. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the braid is glued to the core wire.

12. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the braid is welded to the core wire.

13. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the braid is bonded to the core wire and wherein the bonding is continuous.

14. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the braid is bonded to the core wire and wherein the bonding is at intervals.

15. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the distance between the guidewire and the tubular braid is uniform along the length of the tubular braid.

16. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the first section includes a tubular member.

17. The guidewire of claim 16, wherein the second section includes a protrusion extending at least partially into the tubular member at the join.

18. A guidewire suitable for guiding a catheter within a body lumen, comprising:

an elongated, flexible core wire having a first section including a stainless steel alloy, a second section including a super-elastic alloy, and a third section including a stainless steel alloy, the core wire having a first join between the first and second sections and a second join between the second and third sections; and

a tubular braid covering at least a portion of the core wire, the tubular braid having a length extending across at least one of the first and second joins.

19. The guidewire of claim 18, wherein the braid includes a super-elastic alloy.

20. The guidewire of claim 19, wherein the first section includes a tubular member and the second section includes a protrusion extending at least partially into the tubular member at the first join.