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Superelastic guidewire with a shapeable tip

  • US 5,876,356 A
  • Filed: 04/02/1997
  • Issued: 03/02/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A guidewire for navigating through the human vasculature, said guidewire having a distal end for insertion into the body, and a proximal end, said guidewire comprising:

  • a) a core wire having distal and proximal ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween, said distal end of said core wire is formed from a superelastic material, an outer surface of said core wire having a longitudinal notch at said distal end, said notch having a predetermined size, including an axial height, and shape; and

    b) a member formed from a malleable material, said member having an axial height not substantially greater than said axial height of said notch, said member being substantially entirely inserted within said notch, whereby after said member is bent the shape of said distal end of said core wire changes without elastically returning to its original shape; and

    c) a cover surrounding said member and portions of the core wire immediately adjacent thereto.

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