Medical guide wire

• US 6,648,837 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Asahi Intecc Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Asahi Intecc Company Limited
• Inventors: Nagano, Satoshi, Kato, Tomihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Application Number:
  US09/884,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20020198468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 600/434, 600/435, 600/585
• 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 2025/1097 with perfusion means for enabling blood circulation only while the balloon is in an inflated state, e.g. temporary by-pass within balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2206/10 Flow characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

In medical guide wire (1A), a tapered second helical spring (7) is interposed continuously between a first helical spring (6) and the third helical spring (8) each wound around a leading end portion (2). From a middle portion of the second helical spring (7) to a leading top end of the first helical spring (6), a spiral blood stream path (10) is serially provided along a line gap (C1) of the helical springs (7, 6). A gap-stopper (12) is provided between the leading end portion (2) and the second helical spring (7) in order to induce a high speed spiral blood flow (17) along the spiral blood stream path (10) when the leading end portion (2) reaches a diseased area (13). The high speed spiral blood flow (17) provides the leading end portion (2) with the advancing force (F) and the rotational force (T).

Claims

1. A medical guide wire comprising:

an elongated flexible core member which is circular in cross section, the core member having a leading end portion fixed to a head plug and also having a rearward portion;

a helical spring which is concentrically and loosely wound around said core member from the head plug to its rearward portion in the manner that a space appears between said leading end portion and said helical spring;

said helical spring having a diameter-equally-reduced front portion, a diameter-equally-increased rear portion and a tapered portion between said front and rear portions;

a gap stopper provided to stop a gap between a halfway portion of said tapered portion of said helical spring and said core member;

line element turns of said helical spring being tight from said gap stopper to a rearward portion of said helical spring, and line element turns of said helical spring being loose from said gap stopper to the head plug; and

a blood stream path provided within said helical spring to be directed from said gap stopper to the head plug when said leading end portion reaches a vascular stricture area.

2. The medical guide wire according to claim 1, wherein a helical spring portion having a thick diameter line and a helical spring portion having a thin diameter line are alternately arranged, and a line gap being present between line element turns of said helical spring portions.

3. The medical guide wire according to claim 1, wherein a helical spring portion having a thick diameter line and a helical spring portion having a thin diameter line are alternately arranged at every two turns of said helical spring, and a line gap being present between line element turns of said helical spring portions.