Variable stiffness angioplasty guide wire
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An angioplasty guidewire comprising:
- a proximal shaft for insertion into a patient'"'"'s body and having a distal end;
an intermediate section extending axially outwardly from said distal end of said shaft to a distal joint, said intermediate section including a spring coil, a stiffener extending from said proximal shaft, and a flexible member, said stiffener being coaxially disposed over said flexible member and said stiffener and said flexible member being slidable relative to each other to cooperatively impart a variable stiffness to said intermediate section, said variable stiffness being increased by advancing said stiffener over said flexible member toward said distal joint, said variable stiffness being reduced by moving said stiffener over said flexible member away from said distal joint; and
a flexible distal tip mounted to an end of said intermediate portion at said distal joint and projecting axially therefrom.
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Abstract
An angioplasty guidewire includes a proximal shaft and an intermediate section extending from the shaft to a distal joint and having a stiffener and a flexible member. The stiffener and the flexible member are disposed in coaxial slidable relationship and operable, as the stiffener and flexible member undergo relative axial shifting, to cooperatively impart a variable stiffening force on the intermediate section. A flexible distal tip mounts to the end of the intermediate section and projects axially therefrom.
58 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An angioplasty guidewire comprising:
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a proximal shaft for insertion into a patient'"'"'s body and having a distal end; an intermediate section extending axially outwardly from said distal end of said shaft to a distal joint, said intermediate section including a spring coil, a stiffener extending from said proximal shaft, and a flexible member, said stiffener being coaxially disposed over said flexible member and said stiffener and said flexible member being slidable relative to each other to cooperatively impart a variable stiffness to said intermediate section, said variable stiffness being increased by advancing said stiffener over said flexible member toward said distal joint, said variable stiffness being reduced by moving said stiffener over said flexible member away from said distal joint; and a flexible distal tip mounted to an end of said intermediate portion at said distal joint and projecting axially therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An angioplasty guidewire comprising:
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a proximal shaft for insertion into a patient'"'"'s body and having a distal end; an intermediate section extending axially outwardly from said distal end of said shaft to a distal joint, said intermediate section including a spring coil, a hypotube extending from said proximal shaft having a formed distal open end tapered radially inwardly to define a restricted mouth and a flexible core wire formed with a medial portion complementally formed to selectively engage said mouth and form a friction fit, said core wire slidably received in said hypotube and anchored to said distal joint, said hypotube being coaxially disposed over said core wire and said hypotube and said core wire being slidable relative to each other to cooperatively impart a variable stiffness to said intermediate section, said variable stiffness being increased by advancing said hypotube over said core wire toward said distal joint, said variable stiffness being reduced by moving said hypotube over said core wire away from said distal joint; and a flexible distal tip mounted to an end of said intermediate portion at said distal joint and projecting axially therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of deploying a guide wire through a vasculature to a restricted location in a blood vessel, said guide wire including a proximal shaft for insertion into a patient'"'"'s body having a distal end;
- an intermediate section extending axially outwardly from said distal end of said shaft to a distal joint, said intermediate section comprising a spring coil, a flexible member and a stiffener extending from said proximal shaft, said stiffener being coaxially disposed over said flexible member and said stiffener and said flexible member being slidable relative to each other;
said guide wire further including a flexible distal tip mounted to the end of said intermediate portion at said distal joint and projecting axially therefrom, said method including the steps of;shifting said flexible member and stiffener into an initial position of said guide wire to effect a predetermined flexibility in said intermediate section; inserting said guide wire through an incision accessing said vasculature; threading said guide wire through said vasculature to said restricted location; and stiffening said intermediate section by axially displacing said stiffener with respect to said flexible member toward said distal joint sufficient to support a dilatation catheter. - View Dependent Claims (15)
- an intermediate section extending axially outwardly from said distal end of said shaft to a distal joint, said intermediate section comprising a spring coil, a flexible member and a stiffener extending from said proximal shaft, said stiffener being coaxially disposed over said flexible member and said stiffener and said flexible member being slidable relative to each other;
Specification