Snap-in connection assembly for extension guidewire system
First Claim
1. An extension guidewire system comprising an initially inserted guidewire having a proximal end and a proximal end portion, an extension guidewire adapted to be connected axially to said proximal end portion of said initially inserted guidewire, and a connector assembly not including a retractable spring biased sleeve;
- said extension guidewire having a distal end, a distal end portion and a proximal end; and
said connector assembly consisting essentially of;
a snap-in sleeve or tube which is made from a medically suitable metal tubing and which is mounted at one of the distal end of said extension guidewire and the proximal end of said initially inserted guidewire;
an engageable means on one of said proximal end portion of said initially inserted guidewire and said distal end portion of said extension guidewire for axially engaging and elastically deforming said snap-in sleeve when at least one of said engageable means and said snap-in sleeve is moved relative to the other in an axial direction only; and
a radially inwardly extending detent in said snap-in tube which is positioned to engage against and lock with said engageable means on the other of said proximal end portion of the initially inserted guidewire and said distal end portion of said extension guidewire upon relative axial movement of said proximal end portion of the initially inserted guidewire and of said distal end of said extension guidewire and said snap-in tube toward, and into engagement with, each other followed by substantial elastic recovery of said snap-in sleeve when said detent moves into engagement with said engagable means, and said snap-in sleeve and said engageable means being disengagable upon axially pulling them apart.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The extension guidewire system is used with an inserted guidewire, such as used in a PTCA dilatation balloon catheter system, and includes a snap-connector assembly at and between a distal end of an extension guidewire and a proximal end of an initially inserted guidewire. The connector assembly comprises a snap-in sleeve mounted at the distal end of the extension guidewire, locking structure on the proximal end portion of the initially inserted guidewire and a radially inwardly extended detent on the snap-in sleeve positioned to engage in a gripping manner, and lock against, the locking structure on the proximal end of the initially inserted guidewire.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An extension guidewire system comprising an initially inserted guidewire having a proximal end and a proximal end portion, an extension guidewire adapted to be connected axially to said proximal end portion of said initially inserted guidewire, and a connector assembly not including a retractable spring biased sleeve;
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said extension guidewire having a distal end, a distal end portion and a proximal end; and said connector assembly consisting essentially of; a snap-in sleeve or tube which is made from a medically suitable metal tubing and which is mounted at one of the distal end of said extension guidewire and the proximal end of said initially inserted guidewire; an engageable means on one of said proximal end portion of said initially inserted guidewire and said distal end portion of said extension guidewire for axially engaging and elastically deforming said snap-in sleeve when at least one of said engageable means and said snap-in sleeve is moved relative to the other in an axial direction only; and a radially inwardly extending detent in said snap-in tube which is positioned to engage against and lock with said engageable means on the other of said proximal end portion of the initially inserted guidewire and said distal end portion of said extension guidewire upon relative axial movement of said proximal end portion of the initially inserted guidewire and of said distal end of said extension guidewire and said snap-in tube toward, and into engagement with, each other followed by substantial elastic recovery of said snap-in sleeve when said detent moves into engagement with said engagable means, and said snap-in sleeve and said engageable means being disengagable upon axially pulling them apart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for connecting and disconnecting an extension guidewire to an initially inserted guidewire without use of a retractable spring biased sleeve, said method consisting essentially of the steps of:
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providing a length of extension guidewire; providing a snap-in sleeve or tube which is made from a medically suitable metal tubing and which is mounted on one of;
the distal end of the extension guidewire and the proximal end of the initially inserted guidewire;arranging the snap-in tube to receive, elastically deform and then grippingly engage an end of a guidewire followed by substantial elastic recovery of said snap-in tube; axially inserting into the snap-in tube and causing elastic deformation of said tube the other of; the proximal end of the initially inserted guidewire and the distal end of the extension guidewire, thereby to connect firmly the distal end of the extension guidewire to the proximal end of the initially inserted guidewire followed by substantial elastic recovery of said snap-in tube; and
, when it is desired to disconnect the quidewires, axially pulling the quidewires apart.
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16. An extension guidewire system comprising an initially inserted guidewire having a proximal end and a proximal end portion, an extension guidewire adapted to be connected to said proximal end portion of said initially inserted guidewire, and a connector assembly not including a retractable spring biased sleeve;
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said extension guidewire having a distal end, a distal end portion and a proximal end; and said connector assembly comprising two pieces, namely; a snap-in sleeve or tube which is made from a medically suitable metal tubing and which is mounted at one of the distal end of said extension guidewire and the proximal end of said initially inserted guidewire; first engaging means on one of said proximal end portion of said initially inserted guidewire and said distal end portion of said extension guidewire; second engaging means including a radially inwardly extending detent in said snap-in sleeve which is positioned to engage against and lock with said first engaging means on the other of the proximal end portion of the initially inserted guidewire and the distal end portion of said extension guidewire upon relative axial movement of said proximal end portion of the initially inserted guidewire and of the distal end of said extension guidewire and said snap-in sleeve toward, and into axial engagement with, each other, thereby causing elastic deformation of said snap-in sleeve, said sleeve including an annular wall which surrounds said first engaging means for preventing substantial radial movement between said first engaging means and said second engaging means, said detent of said second engaging means including at least one indentation in said annular wall extending radially inwardly from said annular wall to engage said first engaging means thereby allowing substantial elastic recovery of said snap-in sleeve, and said first engaging means only being removable from said sleeve in an axial direction with elastic deformation of said snap-in sleeve and not being removable in a radial direction. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification