Catheter guide wire with multiple radiopacity
First Claim
1. In a guide wire apparatus having a length of flexible wire with proximal and distal ends, a tip at the distal end of the guide wire, a first wire covering adjacent the tip and having a first radiopacity, and further wire coverings including at least a second wire covering placed intermediate the first wire covering and the proximal end of the guide wire, the improvement comprising:
- a. the second wire covering including a sleeve, the sleeve including a mixture of a polymer and a radiopaque metal loading the second wire covering having a second radiopacity; and
b. the second radiopacity being unequal to the first radiopacity.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for a thin, flexible catheter guide wire having portions of uniform and tapering diameters, a helical coil of a first radiopacity encasing or covering the distal end of the wire, and at least one additional wire cover of a lubricous material which is formed to be radiopaque but which has a radiopacity different than that of the helical coil. This improved device enables the use of an improved method of placement with the use of fluoroscopy to steer and locate the guide wire, and thus the catheter ultimately placed over the guide wire, at a precise situs within the body.
132 Citations
15 Claims
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1. In a guide wire apparatus having a length of flexible wire with proximal and distal ends, a tip at the distal end of the guide wire, a first wire covering adjacent the tip and having a first radiopacity, and further wire coverings including at least a second wire covering placed intermediate the first wire covering and the proximal end of the guide wire, the improvement comprising:
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a. the second wire covering including a sleeve, the sleeve including a mixture of a polymer and a radiopaque metal loading the second wire covering having a second radiopacity; and b. the second radiopacity being unequal to the first radiopacity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. The improved method of fluoroscopic placement of a catheter guide wire comprising the steps of:
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a. mounting a first wire covering adjacent a distal end of the guide wire; b. mounting at least a second wire covering intermediate the first covering and a proximal end of the guide wire, the second wire covering including a sleeve, the sleeve including a mixture of a polymer and a radiopaque metal loading. c. providing the first wire covering with a first radiopacity; and d. providing the second wire covering with a second radiopacity different than the first radiopacity.
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11. The improved method of fluoroscopic placement of a catheter guide wire comprising the steps of:
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a. mounting a first wire covering adjacent a distal end of the guide wire; b. mounting a plurality of further wire coverings intermediate the first covering and a proximal end of the guide wire, each further wire covering including a sleeve, the sleeve including a mixture of a polymer and a radiopaque metal loading; c. providing the first wire covering with a first radiopacity; d. providing each of the further wire coverings with a different radiopacity; and e. making each of the different radiopacities different than the first radiopacity.
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12. Catheter guide wire apparatus comprising:
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a. a length of flexible wire having proximal and distal ends; b. a tip connected to the distal end of the wire; c. a flexible coil mounted around the wire adjacent to the tip and extending proximately therefrom; d. a first polymer sleeve, the sleeve including a mixture of a polymer and a radiopaque metal loading, mounted around the wire adjacent to the coil and extending proximately therefrom; e. at least a portion of the coil having a first radiopacity; and f. at least a portion of the polymer sleeve having a second radiopacity different than the first radiopacity. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification