Extendable guide wire for vascular procedures

• US 4,846,193 A
• Filed: 09/21/1987
• Issued: 07/11/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Beitelia, Ray R., Tremulis, William S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truluck, Dalton L.
• Application Number:
  US07/098,990
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 604/95, 604/17 D, 604/264, 128/656-658, 128/772
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00783 Valvuloplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22001 Angioplasty, e.g. PCTA
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0905 extendable, e.g. mechanisms for extension

Abstract

An extendable guidewire and method for introducing and exchanging catheters in vascular procedures such as coronary angioplasty, angiography, and valvuloplasty. The guidewire has first and second interfitting sections movable between extended and retracted positions relative to each other and means to releasably secure the two sections in the extended position.

Claims

1. An extendable guidewire for use in vascular procedures, comprising a first elongated member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the proximal end and a flexible coil disposed about the distal end thereof, a second elongated member having proximal and distal ends which is slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the first elongated member and movable therein between extended and retracted positions, and means for releasably securing the second elongated member to the first elongated member when extended out of the proximal end of the first elongated member.

2. The extendable guidewire of claim 1 wherein the first elongated member is of tubular construction.

3. The extendable guidewire of claim 2 wherein the second member is an elongated shaft adapted to fit into the first elongated member.

4. The extendable guidewire of claim 3 wherein the means for releasably securing the shaft of the second elongated member within the inner lumen of the first elongated member in the extended position comprises a shaft section of the second elongated member having an increased lateral dimension toward the distal end thereof, and a section of the first elongated member having a decreased internal lateral dimension toward the proximal end thereof.

5. The extendable guidewire of claim 4 wherein the distal end of the shaft is flattened to form the section of increased lateral dimension.

6. The extendable guidewire of claim 4 wherein the section of increased lateral dimension comprises a body of solder is bonded to the distal end of the shaft.

7. The extendable guidewire of claim 4 wherein a section toward the proximal end of the first elongated member is crimped to reduce the internal lateral dimension thereof.

8. A method of assembling an extendable guidewire for use in vascular procedures, comprising the steps of:

(a) affixing a flexible tip to the distal end of a tubular member having an axially extending lumen;

(b) inserting the distal end portion of an elongated shaft having a lateral dimension larger than the remainder of the shaft into the lumen of the tubular member; and

(c) decreasing the lateral dimension of the lumen toward the proximal end of the tubular member to a dimension slightly less than the larger lateral dimension of the shaft so that the shaft can move freely within the lumen between axially extended and retracted positions with the portions of increased and decreased lateral dimension being frictionally engageable with each other to releasably secure the shaft in the extended position within the tubular member.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the distal end portion of the shaft is flattened to increase the lateral dimension thereof.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein solder is bonded to the distal end portion of the shaft to increase the lateral dimension thereof.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the hollow tubular member is crimped in the proximal end thereof to decrease the lateral dimension of the lumen.

12. A vascular procedure utilizing a guidewire comprising a first elongated member having proximal and distal ends, an inner lumen extending therein to the proximal end and a flexible coil disposed about the distal end thereof and a second elongated member slidably disposed within the inner lumen of the first member which is movable between axially extended and retracted positions relative to each other and having means to releasably secure the second member in the extended position, the procedure comprising the steps of:

(a) positioning the guidewire in a patient'"'"'s vascular system with the first and second members in their retracted position and the distal end of the the first member being positioned in a desired location;

(b) advancing a first catheter along the guidewire to a desired position in the patient'"'"'s vascular system;

(c) extending the second member of the guidewire out of the proximal end of the first member and releasably securing the second member in that extended position with respect to the first member without disturbing the location of the distal end of the first member within the patient'"'"'s vascular system;

(d) withdrawing the first catheter from the patient'"'"'s body over the extended guidewire and removing the catheter from the guidewire;

(e) introducing a second catheter into the patient'"'"'s vascular system over the extended guidewire; and

(f) returning the second member of the guidewire to its retracted position within the inner lumen of the first member.