Steerable memory alloy guide wires
First Claim
1. A steerable guide wire for insertion in a body vessel for use in guiding an associated catheter to a desired location within the vessel, the guide wire comprising an elongated coiled spring defining a lumen therein, wherein said coiled spring may assume a first directional shape;
- said coiled spring fitted with a shape memory alloy component within said lumen annealed to a given second directional shape different than said first directional shape such that, upon the application of heat, said shape memory alloy component overcomes said first directional shape of said coiled spring to cause the guide wire to assume said second directional shape.
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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 material.
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 of 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
16 Claims
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1. A steerable guide wire for insertion in a body vessel for use in guiding an associated catheter to a desired location within the vessel, the guide wire comprising an elongated coiled spring defining a lumen therein, wherein said coiled spring may assume a first directional shape;
said coiled spring fitted with a shape memory alloy component within said lumen annealed to a given second directional shape different than said first directional shape such that, upon the application of heat, said shape memory alloy component overcomes said first directional shape of said coiled spring to cause the guide wire to assume said second directional shape. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- 6. A steerable guide wire adapted to be inserted within the body, said guide wire comprising an elongated, flexible, helically coiled spring member having a longitudinal axis, at least a portion of said member provided with shape memory characteristics such that said portion will undergo a directional shape change relative to said axis upon application of heat to raise said portion to a predetermined temperature.
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16. A steerable guide wire adapted to be inserted within the body, said guide wire comprising an elongated, flexible, helically coiled spring member having a longitudinal axis, at least a portion of said member provided with shape memory characteristics such that said portion will undergo a shape change relative to said axis upon application of heat to raise said portion to a predetermined temperature, wherein a shape memory alloy member is attached to a distal tip of said helically coiled spring member so as to extend beyond said spring member.
Specification