Guidewire for crossing occlusions in blood vessels
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A steerable medical guidewire for gently penetrating an occlusion within a vessel comprising:
- an elongated main guidewire body defining a longitudinal axis and having selected stiffness characteristics along its length to allow the guidewire to be urged through a narrow, tortuous body lumen by application of forces at a proximal end,the guidewire having a composite enlarged distal end portion comprised of an extension of said main guidewire body and a surrounding enlarged soft outer polymeric element, said polymeric element having a substantial thickness compared to corresponding portions of said guidewire body, said outer polymeric element having a lubricious outer surface,said enlarged distal end portion including a gently deflected region, to enable steering of said guidewire inside said vessel,said deflected region and the stiffness of said guidewire cooperatively constructed to permit said enlarged distal end portion, including said deflected portion, to gently penetrate said occlusion and form a passage therein.
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Abstract
A steerable guidewire for gently penetrating an occlusion within a vessel, with an elongated solid main guidewire body having selected stiffness characteristics along its length to allow the guidewire to be urged through a narrow, tortuous body lumen by application of forces at a proximal end, and an enlarged distal end portion having a diameter larger than portions of the guidewire proximal thereof including a soft polymeric element and a permanently deflected portion to enable steering of the guidewire.
256 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A steerable medical guidewire for gently penetrating an occlusion within a vessel comprising:
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an elongated main guidewire body defining a longitudinal axis and having selected stiffness characteristics along its length to allow the guidewire to be urged through a narrow, tortuous body lumen by application of forces at a proximal end, the guidewire having a composite enlarged distal end portion comprised of an extension of said main guidewire body and a surrounding enlarged soft outer polymeric element, said polymeric element having a substantial thickness compared to corresponding portions of said guidewire body, said outer polymeric element having a lubricious outer surface, said enlarged distal end portion including a gently deflected region, to enable steering of said guidewire inside said vessel, said deflected region and the stiffness of said guidewire cooperatively constructed to permit said enlarged distal end portion, including said deflected portion, to gently penetrate said occlusion and form a passage therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A steerable guidewire for gently penetrating an occlusion within a vessel comprising:
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an elongated solid main guidewire body having selected stiffness characteristics along its length to allow the guidewire to be urged through a narrow, tortuous body lumen by application of forces at a proximal end, and an enlarged distal end portion including a soft polymeric element having a substantial thickness compared to portions of the guidewire proximal thereof and a permanently deflected portion to enable steering of said guidewire.
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Specification