SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANIPULATING INSERTION PATHWAYS FOR ACCESSING TARGET SITES

• US 20120041422A1
• Filed: 09/29/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Whiting, James S., Eigler, Neal L., Mann, Brian M., Hafelfinger, Werner
• Application Number:
  US13/248,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20120041422A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0681 Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/01 Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters A61M25/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems

Abstract

A method for accessing a target site in the body by transferring a guidewire from an initial insertion site on the body to a different insertion site on the body is provided. In one aspect, a method for transferring a medical device or component, such as a sensor lead, from an initial insertion site to another insertion site is also provided. A guidewire of sufficient length, pliancy and deformability to perform a transfer from one insertion site to another insertion site is provided. In one aspect, the guidewire comprises a removable core mandrel to increase rigidity, facilitate insertion and/or improve steerability. A kit or system, comprising introducers, guidewires and catheters for performing a guidewire or device transfer is also provided.

Claims

1. A guidewire for manipulating the insertion pathways to target sites in the body, comprising:

a guidewire body comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a middle segment, wherein the guidewire body has a length of at least about 180 cm, wherein the guidewire body defines an internal lumen;

a movable core mandrel, wherein said mandrel is operable to be inserted into said internal lumen during guidewire insertion and extracted from said internal lumen during guidewire transfer.

2. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein said guidewire has a length of about 240 cm.

3. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein said internal lumen extends substantially throughout the length of said guidewire.

4. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the distal end of said guidewire is capable of a first configuration when said mandrel is in a retracted position and a second configuration when said mandrel is in an extended position.

5. A guidewire with adjustable flexibility, comprising:

an elongate flexible tubular body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the tubular body defines a central lumen extending distally into the tubular body from the proximal end;

an elongate flexible core wire axially moveable within the central lumen; and

wherein axial proximal retraction of the core wire with respect to the tubular body increases the flexibility of at least a portion of the guidewire, and axial distal advance of the core wire with respect to the tubular body decreases the flexibility of at least a portion of the guidewire.

6. The guidewire with adjustable flexibility as in claim 5, wherein the portion of the guidewire capable of changes in flexibility define a flexibility zone of the guidewire.

7. The guidewire with adjustable flexibility as in claim 6, wherein the flexibility zone comprises at least about the proximal 90% length of the elongate tubular body.

8. The guidewire with adjustable flexibility as in claim 7, wherein the flexibility zone comprises generally the entire length of the elongate tubular body.