Guidewire extension system

• US 6,911,016 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Gregorich, Daniel J., Balzum, Brian K., Merdan, Kenneth M., Zhou, Pu, Skujins, Peter, Shireman, Brice L., Vrba, Anthony C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Julian W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VI X
• Application Number:
  US09/925,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20030028127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• Field of Search: 606/108, 606/159, 606/190, 606/192, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198, 600/434, 600/585, 600/435, 604/95.04, 604/280, 604/281, 604/283, 604/905
• US Class Current: 604/95.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09083 having a coil around a core
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0905 extendable, e.g. mechanisms for extension

Abstract

Devices and methods for coupling guidewire system components are disclosed. A guidewire system includes a first wire having a first end and a second wire having a second end which may be selectively coupled to the first end of the first wire. Such guidewire systems are useful as guidewire extension systems.

Claims

1. A guidewire system, comprising:

a first wire including a body member comprising a wall defining a lumen, and a female threaded member disposed within the lumen proximate a first end of the body member; and

a second wire including a second body member having a second end, and a male thread adapted to threadingly engage the female thread of the first wire, the male thread being disposed about the body member of the second wire proximate the second end of the second wire;

wherein the male thread includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein the second portion is more deformable than the first portion.

2. A guidewire system comprising:

a first wire member including a body defining a lumen, and a female thread disposed within the lumen proximate an end of the first wire member; and

a second wire member including body member having a male thread disposed about the body member proximate an end of the second wire member, the male thread adapted to threadingly engage the female thread and including a first portion and a second portion which is different from the first portion, the second portion being more deformable than the first portion.

3. The guidewire system of claim 2, wherein the deformation of the second portion of the male thread acts to inhibit rotation of the first member relative to the second member.

4. The guidewire system of claim 2, wherein the second portion of the male thread includes a different thread pitch from the first portion of the male thread.

5. The guidewire system of claim 2, wherein the second portion of the male thread includes a different thread size from the first portion of the male thread.

6. A guidewire system, comprising:

a first wire having a first end;

a second wire having a second end; and

means for coupling the first end of the first wire to the second end of the second wire, the means including a female thread and a male thread adapted to threadingly engage, the male thread including a first portion and a second portion that is different from first portion and that is adapted to deform when threadingly engaged with the female thread.