EXPANDABLE TIP MEDICAL DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20160228684A1
• Filed: 02/10/2016
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Lazarus Effect, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Martin, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 10,456,560 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09058 Basic structures of guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/091 having a lumen for drug delivery or suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09125 Device for locking a guide wire in a fixed position with respect to the catheter or the human body
• 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 2025/09175 having specific characteristics at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/04 in the body, e.g. expansible A61M25/10, A61M16/0488 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09041 Mechanisms for insertion of guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0905 extendable, e.g. mechanisms for extension

Abstract

Guidewires and methods of use of guidewires having improved atraumatic tips that can distribute force to lessen trauma as well as anchor the guidewire to facilitate improved catheter exchange.

Claims

1. A guidewire comprising:

a guidewire body having a distal end;

a plurality of elements having a proximal section extending along a distal portion of the guidewire body, and a distal section in which the plurality of elements diverge radially outward from the distal end of the guidewire body to form a compliant structure having an expanded profile that is greater than a radial dimension of the distal end of the guidewire body and being resiliently deformable to a reduced profile, where in the expanded profile the compliant structure provides a radial force in an outward circumferential direction from an axis of the guidewire body.

2. The guidewire of claim 1, where the guidewire body comprises a core member and where the plurality of elements, in said proximal section, are affixed to the core member along the distal end of the guidewire body.

3. The guidewire of claim 2, where the plurality of elements, in said proximal section, are not radially expandable away from the core member.

4. The guidewire of claim 1, where the compliant structure comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of spherical, egg-shaped, football-shaped, elliptical, conical, cylindrical.

5. The guidewire of claim 1, where the plurality of elements comprises at least a first strut and a second strut, where a cross sectional area of the first strut is different than a cross sectional area of the second strut.

6. The guidewire of claim 1, where the plurality of elements forming the compliant structure are interwoven to form the compliant structure.

7. The guidewire of claim 1, where the plurality of elements forming the compliant structure are braided to form the compliant structure.

8. The guidewire of claim 1, where at least one of the plurality of elements forming the compliant structure is heat set.

9. The guidewire of claim 1, where at least one of the plurality of elements forming the compliant structure comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a drawn filled tube, a nitinol wire, a shape memory alloy, a super-elastic alloy, a stainless steel material, and a platinum material.

10. The guidewire of claim 1, where the plurality of elements, in said proximal section, are bonded to the guidewire body.

11. The guidewire of claim 1, where the plurality of elements on the distal portion of the guidewire body increase a column strength of the distal portion of the guidewire body.

12. The guidewire of claim 1, where the guidewire body comprises a core member and where the plurality of elements, in said proximal section, are affixed against the solid core member along the distal end of the guidewire body.

13. The guidewire of claim 1, where the compliant structure is permeable to allow fluid flow therethrough.

25. The guidewire of claim 1, where the guidewire body comprises a core member and where the plurality of elements, in said proximal section, are affixed against the solid core member along the distal end of the guidewire body.

14. A guidewire for advancing through a body lumen in a tortuous anatomy, the guidewire comprising:

a guidewire body extending between a proximal portion and a distal portion, the guidewire body comprising an elongated shape and configured to navigate the tortuous anatomy;

a plurality of elements arranged to form a frame member having a diameter greater than a cross sectional diameter of the distal portion of the guidewire body;

where the plurality of elements in the frame member can move relative to each other causing the frame member to be compliant and provide a radial force in an outward circumferential direction from the guidewire body when released from a constraining force; and

the plurality of elements converging from a proximal region of the frame member to extend proximally from the frame member along the distal portion of the guidewire body, thereby forming a proximal extension of the plurality of elements, where the plurality of elements are continuous from the frame member into the proximal extension along the distal portion of the guidewire body.

15. The guidewire of claim 14, where the guidewire body comprises a core member and where the plurality of elements are affixed to the core member along the proximal extension of the plurality of elements.

16. The guidewire of claim 15, where the plurality of elements, in said proximal extension, are not radially expandable away from the core member.

17. The guidewire of claim 14, where the frame member comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of spherical, egg-shaped, football-shaped, elliptical, conical, cylindrical.

18. The guidewire of claim 14, where the plurality of elements comprises at least a first strut and a second strut, where a cross sectional area of the first strut is different than a cross sectional area of the second strut.

19. The guidewire of claim 14, where the plurality of elements forming the frame member are interwoven to form the frame member.

20. The guidewire of claim 14, where the plurality of elements forming the frame member are braided to form the frame member.

21. The guidewire of claim 14, where the frame member is permeable to allow fluid flow therethrough.

22. The guidewire of claim 14, where at least one of the plurality of elements forming the frame member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a drawn filled tube, a nitinol wire, a shape memory alloy, a super-elastic alloy, a stainless steel material, and a platinum material.

23. The guidewire of claim 14, where the plurality of elements, in said proximal extension, are bonded to the guidewire body.

24. The guidewire of claim 14, where the plurality of elements in said proximal extension increase a column strength of a distal portion of the guidewire body.

26. A method of inserting a catheter into a blood vessel having a flow of blood therethrough, the method comprising:

positioning a first catheter into the blood vessel;

advancing a guidewire into the first catheter, where the guidewire comprises a guidewire body extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and a compliant structure located at the distal end of the guidewire body, where a first portion of the compliant structure is collapsible to permit advancement through the first catheter and self-expandable upon deployment from the first catheter, where a proximal portion of the compliant structure is continuous and extends along a distal portion of the guidewire;

deploying the compliant structure into the blood vessel from a distal end of the first catheter such that the compliant structure expands in a uniform radial direction from the guidewire body against the blood vessel thereby permitting a distribution of force against the blood vessel allowing for the compliant structure to temporarily anchor the guidewire within the blood vessel;

withdrawing the first catheter out of the blood vessel while maintaining the guidewire within the blood vessel; and

advancing a second catheter over the guidewire.