Guide wire advancer and assembly and method for advancing a guide wire
First Claim
1. A guide wire advancer, comprising:
- a. a distal portion having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, the distal portion capable of straightening a guide wire;
b. a proximal portion having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough; and
c. a central portion having flexible first and second members extending between the distal portion and the proximal portion, the first and second members defining an opening therebetween, wherein compression of the opening by deformation of the first and second members moves the proximal portion toward the distal portion to advance a guide wire through the passageways.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An advancer for advancing a guide wire includes a distal portion having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough. The distal portion is capable of straightening the guide wire. The advancer further includes a proximal portion having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough and a central portion having first and second curved surface members which extend between the distal portion and the proximal portion. The curved surface members define an opening therebetween to provide access for a user'"'"'s thumb and finger to advance a guide wire through the advancer. Also disclosed is a guide wire advancer assembly which includes the advancer and a guide wire storage tube. The tube has an outer diameter which is substantially the same as an inner diameter of the proximal portion and which has the guide wire enclosed within the storage tube. A method for straightening a guide wire for insertion into a patient includes the steps of inserting a tip of the guide wire advancer into a proximal end of a guide wire introducer. The end of the guide wire is passed through the proximal end of the guide wire advancer, and the guide wire is advanced through the guide wire advancer such that it passes through the opening in the tip of the guide wire advancer and into the opening in the guide wire introducer. The guide wire is then passed through the guide wire introducer and into the patient.
100 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A guide wire advancer, comprising:
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a. a distal portion having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, the distal portion capable of straightening a guide wire;
b. a proximal portion having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough; and
c. a central portion having flexible first and second members extending between the distal portion and the proximal portion, the first and second members defining an opening therebetween, wherein compression of the opening by deformation of the first and second members moves the proximal portion toward the distal portion to advance a guide wire through the passageways. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A guide wire advancer assembly comprising:
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a. a guide wire advancer including;
i. distal portion having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, the distal portion capable of straightening a guide wire;
ii. a proximal portion having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough;
iii. a central portion having first and second members extending between the distal portion and the proximal portion, the first and second members defining an opening therebetween, wherein compression of the opening by deformation of the first and second members moves the proximal portion toward the distal end portion to advance a guide wire through the passageways; and
b. a guide wire storage tube configured to mate with the proximal portion. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 10, 11)
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9. The assembly of 6, wherein the passageway in the distal portion and the passageway in the proximal portion are generally aligned along a longitudinal axis.
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12. A method for advancing a guide wire, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. compressing an opening in an advancer by deforming flexible members of the advancer to move a proximal portion of the advancer toward a distal portion of the advancer to advance the guide wire;
b. releasing the deformed flexible members to decompress the opening in the advancer, thereby separating the proximal portion of the advancer from the distal portion; and
c. repeating steps (a) and (b), as necessary, to advance the guide wire a desired distance. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
a. passing the guide wire through a passageway in the proximal portion of the advancer;
b. passing the guide wire through the opening in the advancer; and
c. feeding the guide wire into a passageway in the distal portion of the advancer.
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17. The method of claim 12, wherein the guide wire is enclosed in a storage tube, and the method further comprises, before step (a), the step of mating the storage tube to the proximal portion of the advancer.
Specification