Medical devices incorporating at least one element made from a plurality of twisted and drawn wires at least one of the wires being a nickel-titanium alloy wire

• US 6,278,057 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1998
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Science Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: General Science Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Avellanet, Francisco J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mayo, III, William H.
• Application Number:
  US09/143,751
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 174/126.1, 174/128.1, 174/94.R, 174/90, 174/128.2, 174/36, 606/106, 606/107, 606/108, 606/129
• US Class Current: 174/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/20 Arch wires A61C7/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2403 with pivoting rigid closure members check valves with hinged closure members in general F16K15/03
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/86 Stents in a form characterised by the wire-like elements; Stents in the form characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09075 having a core without a coil possibly combined with a sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09191 made of twisted wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: B21C 1/02 Drawing metal wire or like flexible metallic material by drawing machines or apparatus in which the drawing action is effected by drums
• CPC Class Codes: B21C 37/045 Manufacture of wire or bars with particular section or properties
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/20 by degassing, i.e. liberation of dissolved gases degasification of liquids in general B01D19/00; arrangement of degassing apparatus in boiler feed supply F22D
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/42 by ion-exchange ion-exchange in general B01J
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/46104 Devices therefor; Their operating or servicing
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/4611 Fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/42 Liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/066 Overpressure, high pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 15/08 Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 1/0693 having a strand configuration
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2201/2009 characterised by the materials used
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2205/3085 Alloys, i.e. non ferrous
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 2801/10 : Smallest filamentary entity of a rope or strand, i.e. wire, filament, fiber or yarn
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 13/0292 : After-treatment
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 5/08 : Several wires or the like stranded in the form of a rope
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 5/10 : stranded around a space, insulating material, or dissimilar conducting material
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/0009 : Details relating to the conductive cores
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 : Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Abstract

Medical devices are provided which utilize a highly flexible cable of two and preferably three or more strands of wire, at least one of which is a nickel-titanium alloy strand. The strands are twined to form a wire rope which is drawn through successive dies to reduce its diameter until the outer surface of the cable is substantially smooth. A cable of all nickel-titanium alloy strands has been found to have an improved elasticity over a superelastic nickel-titanium wire of the same diameter. The cable is used in medical devices in which increased elasticity of a wire-like element is desired. Twisted and drawn cables incorporating a strand of a radiopaque metal or alloy with one or more nickel-titanium strands may be used in devices in which radiopacity of a flexible portion of the device is desired. Twisted and drawn cables incorporating a strand of a highly electrically conductive metal or alloy with one or more nickel-titanium strands may be used in devices in which electrical conductivity of a flexible portion of the device is desired.

Claims

1. In a medical device for temporary or permanent insertion or implantation into a human body, the improvement comprising:

at least one element comprising at least two wires first twisted and and then drawn through at least one die to form a flexible cable, at least one of said at least two wires being a nickel-titanium alloy wire.

2. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least two twisted wires comprises at least three nickel-titanium alloy wires.

3. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least two twisted wires includes at least one wire having a radiopacity greater than said nickel-titanium alloy wire.

4. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least two twisted wires includes at least one wire made from a conductive material having greater conductance than said a t least one nickel-titanium alloy wire.

5. The improvement according to claim 4, wherein:

said conductive material is comprised of at least one of platinum, gold, silver, copper, and aluminum.

6. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said at least two twisted wires includes at least three twisted wires, namely at least one wire made from a radiopaque material and at least one wire made from a conductive material having greater conductance than each of said radiopaque material and nickel-titanium alloy.

7. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said medical device is an endoscopic instrument.

8. The improvement according to claim 7, wherein:

said at least one element is a control cable in said endoscopic instrument.

9. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said medical device is a surgical basket device having a basket, and said at least one element is a component of said basket.

10. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said medical device is a surgical snare device, and said at least one element comprises a snare.

11. The improvement according to claim 10, wherein:

said snare is a bipolar snare.

12. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said medical device is a rotary atherectomy device.

13. The improvement according to claim 12, wherein:

said at least one element comprises a rotary member.

14. The improvement according to claim 12, wherein:

said at least one element comprises a plurality of filiform elements.

15. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said medical device is a self-expanding stent.

16. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said medical device is an electrocautery probe.

17. The improvement according to claim 16, wherein:

said at least one element is an electrode of said electrocautery probe.

18. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said medical device is an embolization coil.

19. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said medical device is a myocardial lead.

20. The improvement according to claim 19, wherein:

said at least one element is an electrode of said myocardial lead.

21. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said medical device is an orthodontic cable.

22. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said medical device is a heart valve.

23. The improvement according to claim 22, wherein:

said at least one element is a ring component of said heart valve.

24. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said medical device is an IUD.

25. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein:

said medical device is a cytology brush.

26. The improvement according to claim 25, wherein:

said at least one element is a plurality of bristles of said cytology brush.

27. The improvement according to claim 25, wherein:

said at least one element is a shaft of said cytology brush.