Superelastic formable guidewire with malleable cladding
First Claim
1. A guidewire for a catheter comprising:
- a. a core wire having a distal end portion formed of a superelastic alloy;
b. a flexible coil surrounding the distal end portion and extending distally beyond the distal end portion; and
c. a forming ribbon contained within the coil to be formed into a desired shape, the forming ribbon extending between the distal end portion and a portion of the coil located beyond the distal end portion;
wherein the distal end portion includes a continuous layer of malleable material on a surface thereof, the malleable material covering at least about 2.2 centimeters of the distal end portion said malleable material being of thickness sufficient to impart manual formability to the distal end portion in the region of the malleable material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A guidewire is provided having a malleable segment extending beyond a superelastic tip portion of the guidewire. Such a configuration provides a guidewire which is resistant to kinking and plastic deformation in the superelastic portion, but which has a distal segment which can be shaped by a physician immediately prior to use in a surgical procedure. The malleable segment can be attached to the distal end of the superelastic tip portion, or alternatively, can result from a malleable coating on a portion of the superelastic tip, wherein the coating is thick enough to allow the coated portion of the tip to be formed into a desired shape. The malleable segment can be radiopaque to ease fluoroscopic visualization of the guidewire. In addition, the entire guidewire located proximally to the malleable segment can be fabricated from a superelastic alloy to provide resistance to kinking and plastic deformation along virtually the entire length of the guidewire.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A guidewire for a catheter comprising:
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a. a core wire having a distal end portion formed of a superelastic alloy; b. a flexible coil surrounding the distal end portion and extending distally beyond the distal end portion; and c. a forming ribbon contained within the coil to be formed into a desired shape, the forming ribbon extending between the distal end portion and a portion of the coil located beyond the distal end portion;
wherein the distal end portion includes a continuous layer of malleable material on a surface thereof, the malleable material covering at least about 2.2 centimeters of the distal end portion said malleable material being of thickness sufficient to impart manual formability to the distal end portion in the region of the malleable material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A guidewire for a catheter comprising:
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a. a shaft of a superelastic alloy, the shaft defining a body portion, a distal tip portion and a proximal end; and b. a continuous layer of malleable material on the surface of the shaft and extending on the distal tip portion at least about 2.2 centimeters and terminating distal to the proximal end, said malleable material being of a thickness sufficient to impart manual formability to the distal tip in the region of the malleable material. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification