Guidewire with multiple radiopaque marker sections

• US 7,033,325 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2000
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARMOR II, CHARLES ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/699,626
• Time in Patent Office: 2,003 Days
• Field of Search: 600433-435, 600/585, 604523-532, 604/96.01, 335/11, 335/12, 606/194
• US Class Current: 600/585
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09166 having radio-opaque features
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

An over-the-wire balloon catheter has a radiopaque marker thereon at a known distance from a distal end of the catheter. An elongated flexible guide wire has a plurality of longitudinally spaced radiopaque markers on a distal portion thereof, with adjacent markers on the guide wire being longitudinally spaced at a distance equal to the known distance between the distal end of the catheter and its radiopaque marker. The guide wire is advanced through an artery until one of its markers is positioned at a desired location relative to a stenosis. Subsequently, the balloon catheter is advanced over the guide wire until the radiopaque marker of the catheter is in a predetermined position relationship to the radiopaque marker of the guide wire which has aligned on the stenosis. The cooperating radiopaque markers of the guide wire and catheter thus allow the balloon member of the catheter to be positioned relative to the stenosis in a timely fashion without the need to constantly inject fluoroscopic dye to view the stenosis.

Claims

1. An intravascular guidewire, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion comprising a solid wire which tapers distally, the distal portion having distal end portion including a radiopaque coil tip disposed at the distal end portion; and

a plurality of radiopaque markers disposed on the shaft proximal of the coil tip, the markers defining a plurality of 1.5 cm longitudinal spaces therebetween.

2. The intravascular guidewire of claim 1, wherein the radiopaque markers are 1 mm wide.