INTRA-LUMINAL ACCESS APPARATUS AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME

• US 20140088560A1
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cornell University
• Original Assignee: Cornell University
• Inventors: Dorfman, Gary S., Min, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US14/008,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20140088560A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/510
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 29/085 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/10 Macromolecular materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0064 which become stiffer or softer when heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09116 Design of handles or shafts or gripping surfaces thereof for manipulating guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0017 specially adapted for long-term hygiene care, e.g. urethral or indwelling catheters to prevent infections
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/005 with embedded materials for reinforcement, e.g. wires, coils, braids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0668 splittable, tear apart
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09041 Mechanisms for insertion of guide wires

Abstract

Apparatus and methods providing intra-luminal access and, in particular, to needle, catheter, and guidewire structures and methods of using the same to access a vascular or other body tissue lumen.

Claims

1. A guide wire comprising:

an elongate body portion having a proximal end and a distal end; and

an impediment structure disposed on the guidewire at or adjacent the proximal end.

2. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the proximal end has a dimension d2 and the impediment structure has a dimension d1 that is larger than d2.

3. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the impediment structure comprises an enlarged diameter portion of the proximal end.

4. The guidewire of claim 3, wherein the impediment structure comprises a coiled portion of the body portion.

5. The guidewire of claim 3, wherein the impediment structure comprises a deformed portion of the body portion.

6. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the impediment structure is removeably disposed on the proximal end.

7. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the impediment structure is permanently secured to the body portion.

8. The guidewire of claim 6, wherein the impediment structure is frictionally secured to the body portion.

9. The guidewire of claim 6, wherein the impediment structure is threaded onto the body portion.

10. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the impediment structure is bonded to the body portion.

11. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the impediment structure is deformable and is characterized by an impeding configuration and a release configuration.

12. The guidewire of claim 11, further comprising a member to maintain the impediment structure in the release configuration.

13. The guidewire of claim 10, wherein the impediment structure has a foam or a gel construction.

14. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the impediment structure has at least one collapsible wing member radially extending from the body portion.

37. The use of a guidewire in accordance with claim 1 for placing or replacing a catheter having a soft, atraumatic lumen portion and a reinforcing exoskeleton joined with the lumen portion.

15-36. -36. (canceled)

38-51. -51. (canceled)