High performance coil wire

• US 6,306,105 B1
• Filed: 05/14/1998
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Richard, Joseph, Mirarchi, Tom, Kapravy, Andy, Chu, Michael S. H., Rooney, Maura, Liu, Clifford M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINGOOD, PAMELA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/078,946
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• Field of Search: 600/585, 600/433, 600/434, 604/95, 604/96, 604/280, 604/281, 604/282
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09083 having a coil around a core
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09175 having specific characteristics at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

A high performance coil over-core guide wire. The guide wire incorporates a nickel-titanium core with a stainless steel coil to provide a wire with improved kink resistance and good pushability.

Claims

1. A guide wire comprising:

an elongate core composed of a nickel-titanium alloy and having a length; and

a coil composed of a sinle material surrounding the entire length of the core.

2. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein the nickel-titanium alloy comprises a super-elastic metal.

3. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein the nickel-titanium alloy comprises a linear-elastic metal.

4. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein the single material comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.

5. The guide wire of claim 4 wherein the nickel-titanium alloy comprises a super-elastic metal.

6. The guide wire of claim 4 wherein the nickel-titanium alloy comprises a linearelastic metal.

7. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein the single material comprises stainless steel.

8. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein the single material comprises a precipitation hardenable alloy.

9. The guide wire of claim 1 further comprising:

a polymer tip surrounding a distal portion of the core.

10. The guide wire of claim 9 wherein the polymer tip comprises a radio-opaque filler whereby a distal tip of the guide wire may be more readily visible under fluoroscopy.

11. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein the coil comprises a single strand of wire.

12. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein the coil comprises a multi-filar strand.

13. The guide wire of claim 11 wherein the wire further comprises a rectangular cross-section.

14. The guide wire of claim 11 wherein the wire further comprises a circular cross-section.

15. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein the coil further comprises a pitch which varies along the length of the core.

16. The guide wire of claim 15 wherein the pitch of the coil varies such that a distal end of the coil is more flexible then a proximal end of the coil.

17. The guide wire of claim 1 further comprising:

a hypotube, joined to the core and bonded to the coil.

18. The guide wire of claim 1 wherein a bond is formed between the coil and the core.

19. The guide wire of claim 18 wherein the bond comprises a weld bond.

20. The guide wire of claim 18 wherein the bond comprises an adhesive bond.

21. A floppy-tipped guide wire comprising:

a core;

a coil surrounding at least a distal portion of the core, a distal end of the coil extending distal of the distal portion of the core,

a tip bonded to the distal end of the coil; and

a polymeric safety ribbon bonding the distal portion of the core to the tip.