×

Anatomically matched steerable PTCA guidewire

  • US 5,365,943 A
  • Filed: 03/12/1993
  • Issued: 11/22/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A small diameter steerable PTCA guidewire comprising:

  • an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal section, an intermediate section connected to the proximal section and a distal section connected to the intermediate section;

    the distal section being more flexible than the intermediate section;

    the intermediate section being more flexible than the proximal section;

    the distal section being approximately fifteen to thirty centimeters in length;

    the intermediate section being approximately twelve to eighteen centimeters in length whereby the intermediate section may extend through the region of a human aortic arch when the distal section is disposed, at least in part, in a coronary artery;

    the proximal section being formed from a material different from that of the intermediate and distal sections and has a modulus of elasticity that is substantially greater than about 30 million p.s.i., the intermediate and distal sections being formed from a material having a modulus of elasticity substantially less than that of the material from which the proximal section is formed;

    said shaft being not substantially greater in diameter than about 0.018 inches;

    said shaft being sufficiently torsionally rigid along its length so that when the intermediate section is in a configuration corresponding to that of a human aortic arch and with the distal segment having at least one bend of a shorter radius than that of a human aortic arch, the shaft is capable of transmitting controllably from its proximal to its distal end rotation applied at the proximal end.

View all claims
  • 3 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×