Steerable guidewire

• US 6,500,130 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gordon, Lucas, Kinsella, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirsch, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US09/746,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20020082523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 600/585
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09083 having a coil around a core
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09033 with fixed mandrils, e.g. mandrils fixed to tip; Tensionable wires

Abstract

A steerable guide wire and associated methods are disclosed. A guidewire in accordance with the present invention includes a shaft assembly including a lumen defined by a coil and an elongate shaft disposed within the lumen defined by the coil, a distal end of the coil being fixed to the elongate shaft proximate a distal end thereof, the elongate shaft including a curved portion proximate the distal end thereof, wherein the curved portion of the elongate shaft is biased to assume a substantially curved shape.

Claims

1. A steerable guidewire, comprising:

a shaft assembly including a lumen defined by a coil and an elongate shaft disposed within the lumen defined by the coil;

a distal end of the coil being fixed to the elongate shaft proximate a distal end thereof;

the elongate shaft including a curved portion proximate the distal end thereof; and

wherein the curved portion of the elongate shaft is biased to assume a substantially curved shape and wherein the curved portion of the wire assumes a substantially straight position when a proximal end of the elongate shaft is urged proximally relative to a proximal end of the coil.

2. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the coil is fixed to the elongate shaft proximate the distal end thereof by a weld joint.

3. The guidewire of claim 1, further including a solder joint disposed between the elongate shaft and the coil.

4. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft comprises a wire including a nickel titanium alloy.

5. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft comprises a ribbon wire.

6. The guidewire of claim 1, further including a sheath disposed about the coil.

7. The guidewire of claim 1, further including a sheath disposed about the coil;

wherein the sheath comprises polytetrafluoroethylene heat shrink tubing.

8. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the coil comprises a wire including a jacket disposed thereabout.

9. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the coil comprises a wire including a jacket disposed thereabout;

and

the jacket comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

10. A steerable guidewire, comprising:

a shaft assembly including a lumen defined by a coil and an elongate shaft disposed within the lumen defined by the coil;

a distal end of the coil being fixed to the elongate shaft proximate a distal end thereof;

the elongate shaft including a curved portion proximate the distal end thereof;

wherein the curved portion of the elongate shaft is biased to assume a substantially curved shape; and

wherein the curved portion of the wire assumes a substantially straight position when a proximal end of the elongate shaft is urged proximally relative to a proximal end of the coil.

11. The guidewire of claim 10, wherein the distal end of the coil is fixed to the elongate shaft proximate the distal end thereof by a weld joint.

12. The guidewire of claim 10, further including a solder joint disposed between the elongate shaft and the coil.

13. The guidewire of claim 10, wherein the elongate shaft comprises a wire including a nickel titanium alloy.

14. The guidewire of claim 10, wherein the elongate shaft comprises a ribbon wire.

15. The guidewire of claim 10, further including a sheath disposed about the coil.

16. The guidewire of claim 10, further including a sheath disposed about the coil;

wherein the sheath comprises polytetrafluoroethylene heat shrink tubing.

17. The guidewire of claim 10, wherein the coil comprises a wire including a jacket disposed thereabout.

18. The guidewire of claim 10, wherein the coil comprises a wire including a jacket disposed thereabout;

and

the jacket comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

19. A steerable guidewire, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a distal end and a proximal end;

a plurality of rings disposed about the elongate shaft;

a distal most ring being fixed to the elongate shaft proximate the distal end thereof;

the elongate shaft including a curved portion proximate the distal end thereof;

wherein the curved portion of the elongate shaft is biased to assume a substantially curved shape; and

wherein the curved portion of the wire assumes a substantially straight position when the proximal end of the elongate shaft is urged proximally relative to a proximal most ring of the guidewire.