Steerable guide wire

• US 5,069,217 A
• Filed: 07/09/1990
• Issued: 12/03/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lake Region Manufacturing Incorporated (Integer Holdings Corporation Inc)
• Original Assignee: Lake Region Manufacturing Incorporated (Integer Holdings Corporation Inc)
• Inventors: Fleischhacker, Joseph F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NASSER, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US07/549,740
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 128/657, 128/772, 604/9, 604/167, 604/170, 604/286, 604/282
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09091 where a sheath surrounds the coil at the distal part
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09175 having specific characteristics at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

A steerable guide wire for use in a medical procedure, such as coronary angioplasty, which requires positioning a catheter or other device at a remote location within the body by way of the cardiovascular system or other passage way. The guide wire has a solid core wire which runs the entire length. The distal end of the core wire is tapered to an intermediate diameter to permit insertion into a short flexible coil, or a combination of a flat wire coil and round wire coil attach to each other at a brazed joint. The flexible coil has an outside diameter approximately equal to the outside diameter of the core wire proximal to the taper. The proximal end of the flexible coil is fixedly attached to the taper. The distal tip of the core wire is further tapered and optionally flattened to enhance the handling characteristics as well as flexibility. The distal tip of the core wire and a flexible round wire coil are coextensive, and attached distally to form a smooth tip for the guide wire. The entire guide wire can be coated with a polymer or other suitable material to control, and reduce friction over the length of the guide wire.

Claims

1. A guidewire comprising:

a. a core wire of about 180 cm in length including in order a main diameter of about 0.012 to 0.018 inches of about 150 cm in length, a first taper of about 2 cm in length, an intermediate diameter of about 10-22 cm in length, a second taper of about 4-15 cm in length, and a final diameter of about 0.003 inches of about 2 cm in length flattened to about 0.002 inches by about 0.0045 inches;

b. a flat wire coil brazed to said first taper and said second taper and about said core wire; and

,

c. a flexible coil spring of radiopaque material, of about 0.012 to 0.018 inches outside diameter to about 0.010 to 0.012 inches inside diameter, attached between a hemispherical weld tip and said flat wire coil brazed at said second taper and about said core wire, whereby said final diameter of said core wire and said flexible coil spring provide for insertion, flexibility and maneuvering of said guidewire with flexibility and bendability of a distal end.