Guidewire With Torque Transmission Element

• US 20170087340A1
• Filed: 09/28/2016
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microvention Incorporated (Terumo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microvention Incorporated (Terumo Corporation)
• Inventors: Peralta, Nelson, Nguyen, Ngoclan H.
• Granted Patent: US 10,639,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09083 having a coil around a core
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09108 Methods for making a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09041 Mechanisms for insertion of guide wires

Abstract

A guidewire includes a shaft element and a flexible distal torque transmission element. The torque transmission element can be formed of a coiled wire having one or more of the loops that are welded or otherwise fixed together to achieve desirable flexibility and torque transmission.

Claims

1. A guidewire comprising:

a shaft including a distal section;

a torque transmission element connected to the distal section of the shaft;

wherein the torque transmission element comprises a coiled wire forming a plurality of loops and wherein at least some adjacent loops of the plurality of loops are selectively welded together with one or more weld locations to increase stiffness of the torque transmission element.

2. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the one or more weld locations comprise a repetitive pattern along at least a portion of the torque transmission element.

3. The guidewire of claim 2, wherein the repetitive pattern comprises a first loop and an adjacent second loop connected together by a first weld point and a second weld point located diametrically across from the first weld point.

4. The guidewire of claim 3, wherein the repetitive pattern comprises a third weld point and a fourth weld point located diametrically across from the third weld point;

the third weld point and the fourth weld point connecting the second loop and a third loop adjacent to the second loop;

the third weld point and the fourth weld point being located at about 90 degrees relative to either the first weld point or the second weld point.

5. The guidewire of claim 2, wherein the repetitive pattern comprises a first loop and an adjacent second loop connected together by four weld points spaced at radially equidistant locations.

6. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the one or more weld locations comprise a first repetitive pattern and a second repetitive pattern along at least a portion of the torque transmission element.

7. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the distal section of the shaft has a smaller than a proximal section of the shaft;

and wherein the torque transmission element is disposed over the distal section.

8. The guidewire of claim 7, wherein at least some of the plurality of loops contact the distal section of the shaft.

9. The guidewire of claim 7, wherein at least some of the plurality of loops are radially spaced apart from the distal section of the shaft.

10. A guidewire comprising:

a shaft including a distal section;

a helical coil connected to the distal section of the shaft, where the helical coil includes a plurality of loops;

wherein at least some adjacent loops of the plurality of loops are selectively attached to each other via weld points that are positioned in a repetitive pattern along at least a portion of the length of the helical coil to decrease the flexibility of the helical coil.

11. The guidewire of claim 10, wherein the repetitive pattern of the weld points comprises repeating circumferential positions of the weld points along the helical coil.

12. The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the repetitive pattern further comprises a first region of a first repetitive pattern and a second region of a second repetitive pattern.

13. The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the repetitive pattern comprises a first and second weld point connecting a first and second loop of the plurality of loops and being spaced about 180 degrees apart from each other;

and wherein the repetitive pattern further comprises a third and fourth weld point connecting the second loop and a third loop, the third and fourth weld points being spaced about 180 degrees apart from each other and about 90 degrees from the first and second weld points.

14. The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the repetitive pattern comprises four weld points space at radially equidistant locations between a first loop and an adjacent second loop, repeating between adjacent loops through a portion of the helical coil.

15. The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the one or more weld locations comprise a first repetitive pattern and a second repetitive pattern along at least a portion of the helical coil.

16. The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the shaft has a larger diameter region and a smaller diameter region, and wherein a proximal end of the helical coil is spaced apart from the larger diameter region.

17. A guidewire comprising:

an elongated shaft;

a helical coil connected to a distal section of the shaft, where the helical coil comprises a plurality of loops;

wherein at least some adjacent loops of the plurality of loops are selectively attached to each other via weld points that are positioned in a longitudinal pattern of circumferential locations along at least a portion of the length of the helical coil to decrease the flexibility of the helical coil.

18. The guidewire of claim 17, wherein said longitudinal pattern of circumferential locations comprises a first and second weld point connecting a first and second loop of the plurality of loops and being spaced about 180 degrees apart from each other;

and wherein the repetitive pattern further comprises a third and fourth weld point connecting the second loop and a third loop, the third and fourth weld points being spaced about 180 degrees apart from each other and about 90 degrees from the first and second weld points.