Low friction varied radiopacity guidewire
First Claim
1. A guidewire for use with a catheter comprising:
- an elongate flexible core wire;
a helical coil formed from a wire having a predetermined diameter, the helical coil being wrapped about the core wire and extending along the length of the core wire, at least a major portion of the length of the helical coil having adjacent turns spaced from each other by an amount at least equal to the diameter of the wire from which the helical coil is formed.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A guidewire for use in the placement of a catheter includes an elongate flexible core wire and a helical coil wrapped about the core wire. The pitch of the turns of the coil is relatively wide over most of the length of the guidewire with a distal segment having coil turns that are closely adjacent each other. The coil is formed from a radiopaque material. The wide pitch of the coil presented reduced contact area between the guidewire and the catheter, thereby reducing frictional drag between the two. The distal dip defines a relatively dark radiopaque image while the more proximal portions of the guidewire present a less radiopaque relatively gray image. The black/gray fluoroscopic images enable clear determination of the precise position and contour of the guidewire but without obstructing fluoroscopic visualization of radiopaque contrast liquid injected into the body lumen containing the guidewire and catheter.
267 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A guidewire for use with a catheter comprising:
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an elongate flexible core wire; a helical coil formed from a wire having a predetermined diameter, the helical coil being wrapped about the core wire and extending along the length of the core wire, at least a major portion of the length of the helical coil having adjacent turns spaced from each other by an amount at least equal to the diameter of the wire from which the helical coil is formed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27)
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24. A guidewire for use with a catheter comprising:
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an elongate flexible core wire; a helical coil wrapped about the core wire, the coil having a distal segment in which the adjacent turns of the coil lie closely adjacent to each other and wherein the portion of the coil immediately proximal of the distal segment has turns that are pitched relatively wide; said coil being formed from a highly radiopaque material whereby the distal segment of the guidewire may define a dark image under fluoroscopy and where the more proximal portion of the guidewire may define a less radiopaque, gray fluoroscopic image. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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28. A method for placing a catheter comprising:
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providing a guidewire having an elongate flexible core wire and a helical coil wrapped about the core wire and extending along the length of the core wire, at least a major portion of the length of the helical coil having adjacent turns spaced from each other by an amount at least equal to the diameter of the wire from which the helical coil is formed; locating the guidewire within a body lumen of the patient; and advancing the catheter over the guidewire. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A method for placing a catheter comprising:
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providing a guidewire having an elongate flexible core wire and a helical coil wrapped about the core wire, the coil having a distal segment in which the adjacent turns of the coil lie closely adjacent to each other and the portion of the coil immediately proximal of the distal segment has turns that are pitched relatively wide; locating the guidewire within a body lumen of the patient; and advancing the catheter over the guidewire. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification