Guide wire with operator controllable tip stiffness
First Claim
1. A guide wire assembly comprising:
- a guide wire shaft having a lumen;
a core member housed within said lumen; and
,at least one balloon housed within said lumen, said balloon within said shaft, said balloon having a variable shape and a variable internal pressure.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method and apparatus for providing a readily insertable guide wire that is also accurately steerable. One embodiment of the present invention comprises one or more thin diameter, liquid filled, polymer balloons enclosed by the guide wire coils and connected through a hypotube lumen to a pressure transducer. The pressure transducer exerts pressure via a fluid medium to the balloon(s), which then expand and exert pressure onto the inner surface of the coils, thereby stiffening the distal section of the guide wire. In operation, the guide wire will typically be inserted with the balloons deflated, hence the distal tip is very flexible. Once the distal tip reaches its destination, the balloons are inflated and expanded to stiffen and/or reorient the distal tip to allow it to perform as required, typically by aiding in the positioning of a catheter or stent in the desired location.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A guide wire assembly comprising:
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a guide wire shaft having a lumen; a core member housed within said lumen; and
,at least one balloon housed within said lumen, said balloon within said shaft, said balloon having a variable shape and a variable internal pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A guide wire assembly comprising:
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a shaft having a lumen; a core member housed within said lumen and extending therefrom; a coil surrounding a portion of said core member extending from said shaft; and
,at least one balloon coupled to said shaft and disposed between said core and said coil, said balloon being inflatable between said core and said coil, said balloon in fluid communication with said lumen, said balloon having a variable shape and a variable internal pressure. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A guide wire assembly comprising:
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a shaft having a first and a second lumen, said second lumen for carrying a fluid medium such that said second lumen has an internal pressure and a first shape wherein said fluid medium is increased in said second lumen such that said second lumen becomes stiff; and
,a core member housed within said first lumen. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A guide wire assembly comprising:
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a guide wire shaft having a lumen; and
,at least one balloon housed within said lumen, said balloon inflatable within said shaft, said balloon having a variable shape to bend said guidewire shaft, and a variable internal pressure. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An assembly for use as a guide wire, said guide wire having a stiffness, comprising:
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a shaft having a lumen; a core member housed within said lumen; and
,means for altering said stiffness of said guide wire wherein said means for altering stiffness comprises inflating at least one balloon with a fluid medium, said balloon having a variable shape and a variable internal pressure.
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34. An assembly for use as a guide wire, said guide wire having an orientation, comprising:
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a shaft having a lumen; a core member housed within said lumen; and
,means for altering said orientation of said guide wire wherein said means for altering orientation comprises inflating at least one balloon with a fluid medium, said balloon having a variable shape and a variable internal pressure. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A method of operating a guide wire comprising:
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inserting said guide wire transluminally, said guide wire housing a balloon with an internal pressure; and
,altering said internal pressure within said balloon to control the stiffness of at least a portion of the guide wire while said balloon is within said guidewire housing. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A method of operating a guide wire comprising:
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inserting said guide wire transluminally, said guide wire housing within the shaft at least one balloon with a variable internal pressure; and
,altering said internal pressure within said balloon to control the shape of at least a portion of the guide wire. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for treating a patient comprising:
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inserting a guidewire assembly into the body of a patient wherein the guidewire assembly comprises a shaft, lumen, core member and at least one variable shape balloon contained inside said assembly; and
,introducing an inflation medium to at least one of the balloons; changing the shape of at least one of the balloons while it is housed within said assembly by varying the internal pressure of the inflation medium; inflating and deflating at least one of the balloons to maneuver the guidewire within the body; guiding the assembly to the desired location within the body; inflating and deflating at least one of the balloons to change the position of the guidewire; administering treatment to the body site; and
,inflating and deflating at least one of the balloons to move the guidewire assembly. - View Dependent Claims (46)
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Specification