Hollow lumen cable apparatus

• US 5,165,421 A
• Filed: 07/20/1990
• Issued: 11/24/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1987
• 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, Mark G., Fleischhacker, Joseph F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gutowski, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US07/555,899
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 128/656-658, 128/772, 604/95, 604/264, 604/282, 29/435, 464/53, 464/58, 464/7, 138/130, 267/168, 74/502.5
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3207 Atherectomy devices working by cutting or abrading; Similar devices specially adapted for non-vascular obstructions A61B17/32037 takes precedence; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09066 having a coil without a core possibly combined with a sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09091 where a sheath surrounds the coil at the distal part
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09191 made of twisted wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20456 Specific cable or sheath structure

Abstract

A hollow lumen cable is formed by helically winding inner and outer coils with the helices of each coil being in an abutting relationship and the outer coil inner peripheral diameter being less than the outer peripheral diameter of the inner coil. Preferably, each coil is multifilar. After the coils are wound, an unwinding force is applied to the outer coil and the inner coil is inserted into the outer coil to have its winding inclined opposite to that of the outer coil; and thence, the outer coil is allowed to contract to form an interference fit with the inner coil. The cable may be incorporated as part of a medical apparatus. For example, the cable distal end is connected to an implantable pump or other rotatable medical apparatus and the proximal end to a powered prime mover. A manually operated control member is attached to the cable proximal end portion, and the distal end to a medical sub-assembly such as a forceps or cutter; or as a part of a guide wire, or as part of a catheter to impart torque control. The cable is bendable about the tight radii and has a high torque transfer resolution while having a small cable outer diameter, a relatively long life, and has a hollow lumen in which there is no structure or through which fluid, wires or medical devices may pass.

Claims

1. Guidewire system for medical procedures consisting of:

a. a first helically wound coil having a coil central axis;

b. a second helically wound flexible coil wound in an opposite direction with adjacent convolutions in contact and in an interfering fit relationship with said first helically wound coil such that the inner and outer diameters of said first helically wound coil are consistent along the full length of said first helically wound coil, and the inner and outer diameters of said second coil are consistent along the full length of said second coil from a distal end to a proximal end, each of the helices of said first and second coils having substantially the same radial spacing from said coil central axis for control of said coils; and

,

c. said first helically wound coil has outer diameter Z and said second helically wound coil has an inner diameter X such that in a non-assembled condition, Z is about 0.002 inches greater than X.

2. Guidewire system for medical procedures according to claim 1 further consisting of:

a hollow lumen through said second helically wound flexible coil.

3. The guidewire system of claim 1, wherein said first and second helically wound coils comprises a hollow lumen cable, and wherein said interfering fit allows for a substantially 1 to 1 transmittal of torque from said promixmal to said distal end upon rotation of said cable, regardless of the direction of said rotation.

4. The guidewire system of claim 1, wherein said first and second helically wound coils comprise a hollow lumen cable, said cable having an outer diameter of about 1/16 inches or less.