Hand-held device for feeding a spring wire guide

• US 5,484,419 A
• Filed: 06/27/1994
• Issued: 01/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arrow International Incorporated (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Arrow International Investment Corporation (Teleflex Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fleck, Philip B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US08/267,004
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 604/158, 604/159, 604/164, 604/171, 128/772, 128/657
• US Class Current: 604/171
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09116 Design of handles or shafts or gripping surfaces thereof for manipulating guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0113 Mechanical advancing means, e.g. catheter dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09041 Mechanisms for insertion of guide wires

Abstract

A hand-held spring wire guide feeding apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a longitudinal base having an attached rear end having an opening for feeding a spring wire guide; a flexible tube for holding a spring wire guide and having a proximal end attached to said attached rear end, the longitudinal base having a forward end affixed to a removable tube, the removable tube having a coaxially extending bore for receiving and straightening said spring wire guide as it is fed from said rear end. The apparatus includes a central open section which separates the rear and forward ends for providing finger access to said spring wire guide so as to advance said spring wire guide between said rear end means and said forward end; and a handle affixed to the underside of said longitudinal base proximate to said central open section for holding and supporting said wire guide feeding apparatus, said handle having an arcuate surface configured to cup the fingers of the user and further having a clamp for securing the distal end of said flexible tube to said handle.

Claims

1. A hand-held spring wire guide feeding apparatus comprising:

a longitudinal base having an attached rear end having an opening for feeding a spring wire guide;

a flexible tube for holding a spring wire guide and having a proximal end attached to said attached rear end,

said longitudinal base having a forward end affixed to a removable tube defining a bore therethrough for receiving and straightening said spring wire guide as it is fed from said rear end,

a central open section separating said rear and forward ends for providing finger access to said spring wire guide so as to advance said spring wire guide between said rear end and said forward end; and

a handle affixed to the underside of said longitudinal base proximate to said central open section for holding and supporting said wire guide feeding apparatus, said handle configured to cup at least one finger of the user and further having means for securing the distal end of said flexible tube to said handle.

2. The hand-held spring wire guide feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for securing is a clamp.

3. The hand-held spring wire guide feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said handle includes an arcuate surface extending downwardly and forwardly which forms a curved surface so as to cup at least one finger of the user, thereby providing support for the apparatus during advancement of the wire guide.

4. The hand-held spring wire guide feeding apparatus of claim 3 wherein said clamp extends generally rearwardly of said curved surface for securing the distal end portion of said flexible tube thereto.

5. The hand-held spring wire guide feeding apparatus of claim 1 wherein said central open section separating said rear and forward ends for providing finger access to said spring wire guide includes means for facilitating finger access and movement of said spring wire guide.

6. A The hand-held spring wire guide feeding apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for facilitating finger access and movement of said spring wire guide comprises an arced surface.

7. A hand-held spring wire guide feeding apparatus comprising:

a longitudinal base member having a first end member attached thereto, said first end member having a wire guide passageway extending therethrough;

an elongated flexible tubular spring wire guide housing, said elongated flexible tubular housing having a proximal end portion attached to said first end member for interconnecting the elongated flexible tubular housing with said passageway, said elongated flexible tubular housing further having a distal end portion having a sealing stopper for protecting a spring wire guide within the housing from airborne contaminants,

said base member having a second end member comprising a removable tube, said removable tube defining a bore therethrough for receiving and straightening said spring wire fed from said elongated flexible tubular spring wire guide housing through the passageway in said first end member;

a central open section separating said first and second end members and providing unrestricted access to said spring wire guide so as to allow for advancement of said guide to advance said guide between said first and second end members, said central section including means for facilitating finger movement of said spring wire guide, and for minimizing friction; and

a handle affixed to the underside of said base member proximate to said central open section, said handle for cupping at least one finger of the user thereby providing support for the apparatus during advancement of the wire guide, said handle having means extending generally rearwardly of said curved surface for securing the proximal end portion of said flexible tube thereto.

8. A hand-held spring wire guide feeding apparatus comprising:

a longitudinal base having an attached first end member defining a bore therethrough for receiving a spring wire guide;

a flexible tube for housing said spring wire guide, where said flexible tube is interconnected with said first end member,

said longitudinal base having a second end member having attached thereto a removable straightening tube, said straightening tube defining a bore therethrough for receiving and straightening said spring wire guide as it is fed from said first end member;

a central open section separating said first and second end members for providing unrestricted access to said spring wire guide so as to allow for the advancement of said spring wire guide between said first and second end members, said central open section including a boss for facilitating finger access and movement of said spring wire guide, and for minimizing friction; and

a handle affixed to the underside of said base proximate to said central open section, said handle being configured to cup at least one finger of the hand of the user for holding and supporting said elongated base member, said handle having clamp means for securing said flexible tube to said handle.

9. A hand-held spring wire guide feeding apparatus comprising:

a longitudinal base having a rear end having an opening for receiving a spring wire guide;

a flexible tube for holding a spring wire guide and having a proximal end attached to said rear end;

said longitudinal base having a forward end defining a passageway therethrough for receiving and straightening said spring wire guide as it is fed from said rear end;

a central open section separating said rear and forward ends for providing finger access to said spring wire guide so as to advance said spring wire guide between said rear end and said forward end; and

a handle affixed to the underside of said longitudinal base for holding and supporting said wire guide feeding apparatus, said handle configured to cup at least one finger of the user.

10. The hand-held spring wire guide feeding apparatus of claim 9, wherein said handle includes means for securing a distal end of said flexible tube to said handle.

11. A hand-held spring wire guide feeding apparatus comprising:

a longitudinal base member having a first end member, said first end member having a wire guide passageway extending therethrough;

an elongated flexible tubular spring wire guide housing, said elongated flexible tubular housing having a proximal end portion attached to said first end member for interconnecting the elongated flexible tubular housing with the wire guide passageway, said elongated flexible tubular housing further having a distal end portion having means for protecting a spring wire guide within the housing from airborne contaminants;

said base member having a second end member, said second end member having a passageway therethrough for receiving and straightening said spring wire from said elongated flexible tubular spring wire guide housing through the passageway in said first end member;

a central open section separating said first and second end members for providing access to said spring wire guide to allow for advancement of said guide so as to advance said guide lengthwise between said first and second end members; and

a handle affixed to the underside of said base member, said handle extending downwardly and forwardly forming a curved surface which cups at least one finger of the user thereby providing support for the apparatus during advancement of the wire guide, said handle having means extending generally rearwardly of said curved surface for securing the proximal end portion of said flexible tube thereto.