Steerable memory alloy guide wires
First Claim
1. A steerable guide wire adapted to be inserted within the body, and including shape memory alloy means for effecting accurate steering or aiming of said within the body, said guide wire comprising at least a pair of solid elongated shape memory wire members held in substantial coaxial engagement with each other but so as to allow relative sliding movement therebetween, and wherein one of said wire members is annealed to undergo a shape change in one direction upon application of heat, and another of said wire members is annealed to undergo a shape change in another direction upon application of heat, said guide wire being rotatable about 360°
- to thereby enable reversibly omni-directional steering of said guide wire.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical guide wire or the like that is comprised in part or entirely of one or more heat activated memory alloys alone or in conjunction with one or more non-heat activated memory materials.
The tip or any portion of a guide wire comprised of memory alloy or components thereof can be aimed, deflected or steered on command by applying heat to the alloy. Combining heat activated memory alloys alone or with non-heat activated memory materials in opposite or antagonistic configurations or assemblies permits reversible shape change of the guide wire in any direction. The heat activated or shape memory alloys may be titanium-nickel alloys, titanium-nickel-cobalt alloys, other transition and precious metal alloys or thermoplastic heat settable material which exhibit shape memory characteristics. Heating of the guide wire is accomplished by induction heating, immersion heating, application of RF energy, or by body temperature.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A steerable guide wire adapted to be inserted within the body, and including shape memory alloy means for effecting accurate steering or aiming of said within the body, said guide wire comprising at least a pair of solid elongated shape memory wire members held in substantial coaxial engagement with each other but so as to allow relative sliding movement therebetween, and wherein one of said wire members is annealed to undergo a shape change in one direction upon application of heat, and another of said wire members is annealed to undergo a shape change in another direction upon application of heat, said guide wire being rotatable about 360°
- to thereby enable reversibly omni-directional steering of said guide wire.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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13. A steerable guide wire adapted to be inserted within the body, and including shape memory alloy means for effecting accurate steering or aiming of said within the body, wherein said guide wire comprises at least a pair of solid elongated shape memory wire members fixedly secured to each other to prevent relative movement therebetween, and wherein one of said wire members is annealed to undergo a shape change in one direction upon application of heat, and another of said wire members is annealed to undergo a shape change in another direction upon application of heat.
Specification