Guidewire tip construction

• US 7,077,811 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Reynolds, Brian R., Shireman, Brice, Vrba, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US10/328,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 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 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

Guidewire with an improved distal end. A guidewire with an improved distal end may include a core wire, a solder tip disposed at a distal end of the core wire, a radiopaque inner coil coupled to the distal end of the core wire, an outer coil disposed along the length of the core wire, and a distal hub coupled to the core wire and disposed proximate a distal end of the inner coil.

Claims

1. A guidewire, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a length, a proximal end and a distal end;

a tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft;

a radiopaque inner coil coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the inner coil having a proximal end and a distal end;

an outer coil disposed along the length of the shaft, the outer coil having a proximal end and a distal end;

a distal hub coupled to the shaft and disposed proximate the distal end of the inner coil; and

further comprising a proximal hub coupled to the shaft.

2. The guidewire in accordance with claim 1, wherein the shaft is comprised of stainless steel.

3. The guidewire in accordance with claim 1, wherein the shaft is comprised of nickel-titanium alloy.

4. The guidewire in accordance with claim 1, wherein the shaft is comprised of a composite of nickel-titanium alloy and stainless steel.

5. The guidewire in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner coil is comprised of platinum.

6. The guidewire in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner coil is comprised of gold.

7. The guidewire in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner coil is comprised of tungsten alloy.

8. The guidewire in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer coil is comprised of stainless steel.

9. The guidewire in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer coil is comprised of nickel-titanium alloy.

10. The guidewire in accordance with claim 1, wherein the distal end of the outer coil is coupled to the tip.

11. The guidewire in accordance with claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the inner coil is coupled to the shaft.

12. The guidewire in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer coil further comprises a proximal section that is coupled to the shaft.

13. The guidewire in accordance with claim 1, wherein the proximal hub is comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene.

14. The guidewire in accordance with claims 1, wherein the proximal hub prevents the inner coil from moving proximally relative to the shaft.

15. The guidewire in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a ribbon coupled to the shaft and extending between the shaft and the tip.

16. The guidewire in accordance with claim 1, wherein the outer coil is wound about the shaft in a first direction and the inner coil is wound about the shaft in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is substantially opposite of the second direction.

17. The guidewire in accordance with claim 1, wherein the inner coil is coupled to the outer coil.

18. A guidewire, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a length, a proximal end and a distal end;

a tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft;

a radiopaque inner coil coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the inner coil having a proximal end and a distal end;

an outer coil disposed along the length of the shaft, the outer coil having a proximal end and a distal end;

a distal hub coupled to the shaft and disposed proximate the distal end of the inner coil; and

wherein the distal hub is comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene.

19. A guidewire, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a length, a proximal end and a distal end;

a tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft;

a radiopaque inner coil coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the inner coil having a proximal end and a distal end;

an outer coil disposed along the length of the shaft, the outer coil having a proximal end and a distal end;

a distal hub coupled to the shaft and disposed proximate the distal end of the inner coil;

further comprising a ribbon coupled to the shaft and extending between the shaft and the tip; and

further comprising a connector disposed adjacent a joining portion of the shaft and the ribbon.

20. A guidewire, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a length, a proximal end and a distal end;

a tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft;

a radiopaque inner coil coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the inner coil having a proximal end and a distal end;

an outer coil disposed along the length of the shaft, the outer coil having a proximal end and a distal end;

a distal hub coupled to the shaft and disposed proximate the distal end of the inner coil;

wherein the inner coil is coupled to the outer coil; and

wherein the outer coil includes a first increased pitch region, and wherein the inner coil and the outer coil are coupled adjacent the first increased pitch region.

21. The guidewire in accordance with claim 20, wherein the inner coil includes a second increased pitch region, and wherein the inner coil and the outer coil are coupled adjacent the second increased pitch region.

22. A guidewire, comprising:

an elongate shaft having a length, a proximal end and a distal end;

a solder tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft;

a radiopaque inner coil coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the inner coil having a proximal end and a distal end;

an outer coil disposed along the length of the shaft, the outer coil having a proximal end and a distal end;

a distal hub coupled to the shaft and disposed proximate the distal end of the inner coil; and

a proximal hub coupled to the shaft and disposed proximate the proximal end of the inner coil.

23. The guidewire in accordance with claim 22, wherein the shaft is comprised of stainless steel.

24. The guidewire in accordance with claim 22, wherein the shaft is comprised of nickel-titanium alloy.

25. The guidewire in accordance with claim 22, wherein the shaft is comprised of a composite of nickel-titanium alloy and stainless steel.

26. The guidewire in accordance with claim 22, wherein the inner coil is comprised of platinum.

27. The guidewire in accordance with claim 22, wherein the inner coil is comprised of gold.

28. The guidewire in accordance with claim 22, wherein the inner coil is comprised of tungsten alloy.

29. The guidewire in accordance with claim 22, wherein the outer coil is comprised of stainless steel.

30. The guidewire in accordance with claim 22, wherein the outer coil is comprised of nickel-titanium alloy.

31. The guidewire in accordance with claim 22, wherein the distal end of the outer coil is coupled to the solder tip.

32. The guidewire in accordance with claim 22, wherein the proximal end of the inner coil is coupled to the shaft.

33. The guidewire in accordance with claim 22, wherein the outer coil further comprises a proximal section that is coupled to the shaft.

34. The guidewire in accordance with claim 22, wherein the distal hub is comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene.

35. The guidewire in accordance with claim 22, wherein the proximal hub is comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene.

36. The guidewire in accordance with claim 34, wherein the proximal hub prevents the inner coil from moving proximally relative to the shaft.

37. The guidewire in accordance with claim 22, wherein the outer coil is wound about the shaft in a first direction and the inner coil is wound about the shaft in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is substantially opposite of the second direction.

38. The guidewire in accordance with claim 22, wherein the inner coil is coupled to the outer coil.

39. The guidewire in accordance with claim 38, wherein the outer coil includes a first increased pitch region, and wherein the inner coil and the outer coil are coupled adjacent the first increased pitch region.

40. The guidewire in accordance with claim 39, wherein the inner coil includes a second increased pitch region, and wherein the inner coil and the outer coil are coupled adjacent the second increased pitch region.