Guidewire having linear change in stiffness
First Claim
1. An intracorporeal catheter assembly, comprising:
- a) an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending along at least a portion therein; and
b) a support member disposed within the at least one lumen and having a substantially linear change in stiffness over a longitudinal length thereof.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is directed to a guidewire having a distal section with multiple distally tapered core segments with at least two contiguous distally tapering core segments in which the most distal tapered core segment preferably has a greater degree of taper than the proximally contiguous tapered core segment. The invention is also directed to an elongated intracorporeal device, preferably a guidewire or section thereof, that has a core member or the like with a plurality of contiguous tapered segments having taper angles that are configured to produce a linear change in stiffness over a longitudinal section of the device. The device may also have a core section with a continuously changing taper angle to produce a curvilinear profile that preferably is configured to produce a linear change in stiffness of the core over a longitudinal section of the device.
77 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An intracorporeal catheter assembly, comprising:
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a) an elongated shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one lumen extending along at least a portion therein; and
b) a support member disposed within the at least one lumen and having a substantially linear change in stiffness over a longitudinal length thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A support member for use within a lumen of an intracorporeal device
comprising an elongated core member with at least one longitudinal section having a substantially linear change in stiffness over a longitudinal length thereof.
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16. A support member for use within a lumen of an intracorporeal device comprising an elongated core member having proximal and distal core sections, with the distal core section having a first tapered core segment having an angle of taper and a distally contiguous second tapered core segment which is longer than the first tapered core segment and which has an angle of taper greater than the angle of taper of the first tapered core segment.
Specification