MEDICAL GUIDEWIRES FOR TORTUOUS VESSELS
First Claim
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1. An integrated guiding device comprising:
- a corewire, andan overtube with a lumen wherein the corewire extends through the lumen of the overtube,the corewire comprising a flattened section along the distal half of the corewire, and the overtube comprising an indentation aligned with the flattened section with a fraction of the lateral extent of the flattened section of the corewire wherein the flattened section and indentation provide for torque coupling of the corewire and overtube and a defined amount of lateral motion of the corewire relative to the overtube,wherein the corewire extends from a distal end of the overtube in a configuration with the overtube drawn in a proximal direction relative to the corewire to the extent provided by the aligned indentation of the overtube interfacing with the flattened section of the corewire and wherein the portion of the corewire extending from the overtube is unattached to the overtube.
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Abstract
Three groups of guidewire embodiments are described with particularly suitable structures for navigating circuitous vessels, especially blood vessels of the brain. Some of the guidewires have a hyperbolic taper that provides desired flexibility. In some embodiments, an integrated guide structure provides for extension in the blood vessel of a corewire to provide for extended reach of the guidewire. In further embodiments, the guidewire has a flexible tip that can be guided directly by the flow in the vessel.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An integrated guiding device comprising:
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a corewire, and an overtube with a lumen wherein the corewire extends through the lumen of the overtube, the corewire comprising a flattened section along the distal half of the corewire, and the overtube comprising an indentation aligned with the flattened section with a fraction of the lateral extent of the flattened section of the corewire wherein the flattened section and indentation provide for torque coupling of the corewire and overtube and a defined amount of lateral motion of the corewire relative to the overtube, wherein the corewire extends from a distal end of the overtube in a configuration with the overtube drawn in a proximal direction relative to the corewire to the extent provided by the aligned indentation of the overtube interfacing with the flattened section of the corewire and wherein the portion of the corewire extending from the overtube is unattached to the overtube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for positioning a device for performing a therapeutic procedure in the vasculature of a patient, the method comprising:
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extending a corewire relative to an overtube of an integrated guide structure to extend the distal reach of the device in a vessel; and guiding a therapeutic treatment device over the integrated guide structure to a treatment position at least a portion of which extends beyond the distal end of the overtube. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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- 14. A guidewire comprising a solid wire of a biocompatible metal, having a length from about 90 cm to about 300 cm, a proximal diameter from about 0.0075 inches (in) about 0.03 in, and comprising an approximately hyperbolic taper along the distal third of the guidewire length forming a reduced diameter of the wire wherein the hyperbolic taper has a length form about 10 cm to about 60 cm.
- 20. A guidewire comprising a metal wire having a length from about 10 cm to about 400 cm, a proximal diameter from about 0.05 mm to about 1.5 mm and a distal polymer tip having a flexible flattened section extending from the metal shaft.
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24. A method comprising steering a guidewire within a blood vessel toward a selected branch wherein the guidewire comprises a distal polymer tip having a flattened section, the method comprising orienting a guidewire such that flow to the branch vessel steers the distal tip toward the selected branch.
Specification