High performance wires for use in medical devices and alloys therefor
First Claim
1. A medical guidewire for use with a catheter comprising an elongate flexible shaft having a compressive yield stress that is not substantially disproportionate to its tensile yield stress.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An elongate flexible wire-like medical device, such as a guidewire for use with a catheter, is formed with a shaft in which the difference between the magnitude of the tensile yield stress and compressive yield stress of the shaft is substantially reduced. The guidewire exhibits superior kink resistance without compromising other desirable characteristics and enables a guidewire to be made in a smaller diameter without loss of performance. The guidewire shaft may be formed from a precipitation hardenable alloy such as an alloy of nickel, cobalt, molybdenum and chromium (MP35N and Elgiloy), 455PH stainless steel or stainless steel alloy 1RK91. Also disclosed is a process for increasing the modulus of elasticity of an alloy of nickel, cobalt molybdenum and chromium. Further, the disclosure relates to an improved management and manufacturing process for constructing the tip of a medical guidewire.
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Citations
40 Claims
- 1. A medical guidewire for use with a catheter comprising an elongate flexible shaft having a compressive yield stress that is not substantially disproportionate to its tensile yield stress.
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6. A medical guidewire for use with a catheter comprising an elongate, flexible shaft in which the degree of compressive strain and the degree of tensile strain at the yield point in bending are not substantially disproportionate.
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7. A medical guidewire for use with a catheter comprising an elongate flexible shaft having a stress/strain curve in which the yield points in tension and compression are not substantially disproportionately located along the curve.
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8. A medical guidewire for use with a catheter comprising an elongate, flexible shaft in which the degrees of compressive strain and tensile strain at the yield point are less disproportionate than in an identically dimensioned guidewire shaft formed from stainless steel that has not been precipitation hardened.
- 9. A medical guidewire for use with a catheter comprising an elongate flexible shaft that has a compressive yield stress that is greater than the compressive yield stress of an identically dimensioned shaft formed from stainless steel that has not been precipitation hardened.
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12. A guidewire for use with a catheter comprising:
an elongate flexible shaft formed from a precipitation hardened alloy. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- 23. A guidewire for use with a catheter comprising an elongate flexible shaft formed from an alloy having a modulus of elasticity no less than about 28,000,000 p.s.i. and a performance index less than 232, said performance index being determined by the formula ##EQU2## wherein PI is the performance index, R is the radius through which the wire may be bent without plastic deformation sufficient to affect the straightness of the wire and Dw is the diameter of the wire.
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26. In a guidewire for use with a catheter, the guidewire having an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a helical coil attached to the distal end, with the distal end of the helical coil extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft, the guidewire further having a safety ribbon disposed within the helical coil having its proximal end attached to the shaft and its distal end attached to the distal tip region of the coil, the improvement comprising the safety wire being formed so that it has a compressive yield stress that is not substantially disproportionate to its tensile yield stress.
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27. In a guidewire for use with a catheter, the guidewire having an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a helical coil attached to the distal end, with the distal end of the helical coil extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft, the guidewire further having a safety ribbon disposed within the helical coil having its proximal end attached to the shaft and its distal end attached to the distal tip region of the coil, the improvement comprising the safety wire being constructed so that the degree of compressive strain and the degree of tensile strain at the yield point in bending are not substantially disproportionate.
- 28. In a guidewire for use with a catheter, the guidewire having an elongate flexible shaft having a proximal end and a distal end and a helical coil attached to the distal end, with the distal end of the helical coil extending distally beyond the distal end of the shaft, the guidewire further having a safety ribbon disposed within the helical coil having its proximal end attached to the shaft and its distal end attached to the distal tip region of the coil, the improvement comprising the safety ribbon being formed from a precipitation hardened alloy.
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32. A guidewire for catheters, comprising a casing;
- a core for said casing; and
a junction between said casing and said core, the region of said junction including a precipitation-hardened material. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
- a core for said casing; and
Specification