Guide wire for a catheter
First Claim
1. A guide wire for a catheter comprising:
- a core wire formed from a nickel-titanium alloy having a nickel-titanium ratio by weight in the range of 3;
2 to 1;
1, the core wire being fashioned such that in a tensile test wherein the core wire is elongated by at least 5%, the core wire has a recovery percentage of at least 90%, and such that elongations of 5% do not cause any martensitic transformations or martensitic reverse transformations; and
a sheath for covering at least a distal end of the core wire.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A guide wire for a catheter is disclosed that includes a core wire and a sheath for covering at least the distal end of the core wire. The core wire is formed from a nickel-titanium alloy having a nickel-titanium ratio in the range of 3:2 to 1:1. The core wire is worked in a manner such that in a tensile test wherein the core wire is elongated by at least 5%, the core wire has a recovery percentage of at least 90%. Additionally, elongations in the range of zero and 5% do not cause any stress-induced martensitic transformations and/or austinite reverse transformations. Thus, the load-elongation characteristics of the nickel-titanium alloy are such that the load increasing rate is either proportional or gradually decreasing throughout the elongation range of 0 to 5%.
275 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A guide wire for a catheter comprising:
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a core wire formed from a nickel-titanium alloy having a nickel-titanium ratio by weight in the range of 3;
2 to 1;
1, the core wire being fashioned such that in a tensile test wherein the core wire is elongated by at least 5%, the core wire has a recovery percentage of at least 90%, and such that elongations of 5% do not cause any martensitic transformations or martensitic reverse transformations; anda sheath for covering at least a distal end of the core wire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A guide wire for a catheter comprising:
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a core wire made of nickel-titanium alloy consisting essentially of nickel and titanium and being produced by a diffusing method, the nickel content of the core wire being in the range of 55.0% to 57.0% by weight;
the core wire being fashioned such that in a tensile test wherein the core wire is elongated by at least 5%, the core wire has a recovery percentage of at least 90%, and such that elongations of 5% do not cause any martensitic transformations or martensitic reverse transformations the load-elongations characteristics of the nickel-titanium alloy being such that the load increasing rate is either proportional or gradually decreasing throughout the elongation range of 9% to 5%; anda sheath for covering at least a distal end of the core wire, the sheath being made of a macromolecular compound selected from a group consisting of polyurethane, polyethylene, nylon, silicone resin, polytetrafluoroethylene, cellulose, starch, and gelatin. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A guide wire for a catheter comprising:
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a core wire formed from a nickel-titanium alloy having a nickel-to-titanium ratio by weight in the range of 3;
2 to 1;
1,the core wire being produced by subjecting the nickel-titanium alloy to cold drawing to reduce its cross-section by 35% to 50% and heat-treating the cold drawn alloy at a temperature of 350°
C. to 400°
C. for 10 seconds to 30 seconds, whereby the core wire is fashioned such that in a tensile test in which the core wire is elongated by at least 5%, the core wire has a recovery percentage of at least 90%, and such that elongations of 5% do not cause any martensitic transformations or martensitic reverse transformations; anda sheath for covering at least a distal end of the core wire.
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Specification