High performance coil wire

• US 7,470,239 B1
• Filed: 06/20/2000
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Chu, Michael S. H., Rooney, Maura, Richard, Joseph, Mirarchi, Tom, Kapravy, Andy, Liu, Clifford M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foreman; Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US09/597,179
• Time in Patent Office: 3,115 Days
• Field of Search: 600/585, 600/433, 600/434
• 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

A high performance coil over-core guide wire. The guide wire incorporates a nickel-titanium core with a stainless steel coil to provide a wire with improved kink resistance and good pushability.

Claims

1. A guide wire comprising:

an elongate core defining a proximal end and a distal end;

a continuous, unitary coil exhibiting an outer diameter and an inner diameter surrounding a portion of the core, with a portion of the coil extending beyond the distal end of the core by a plurality of turns of the coil, the inner diameter of the coil defining an internal area inside the coil along the portion of the coil that extends beyond the core; and

a polymer contacting the distal end of the core and entirely filling the internal area, without extending beyond a distal end of the coil; and

a metal tip extending from a distal end of the polymer and contacting a distal surface of the coil.

2. A guide wire comprising:

an elongate core composed of a nickel-titanium alloy including a proximal end and a distal end;

a continuous, unitary coil exhibiting an outer diameter and an inner diameter surrounding a portion of the core, the inner diameter of the coil defining an internal area inside the coil;

a first polymer contacting the core and at least partially filling the internal area, without extending beyond a distal end of the coil; and

a second polymer defining a tip and extending from a distal end of the first polymer and contacting a distal surface of the coil.

3. The guide wire of claim 2, wherein a portion of the coil extends beyond the distal end of the core by a plurality of turns of the coil.

4. The guide wire of claim 3, wherein the first polymer entirely fills the internal area along the portion of the coil that extends beyond the core.

5. The guide wire of claim 2, wherein the core is not tapered along its distal portion.

6. A guide wire comprising:

an elongate core composed of a nickel-titanium alloy including a proximal end and a distal end;

a continuous, unitary coil exhibiting an outer diameter and an inner diameter, composed of a second material, surrounding a portion of the core, the inner diameter of the coil defining an internal area inside the coil;

a polymer contacting the core and at least partially filling the internal area, without extending beyond a distal end of the coil;

a tip extending from a distal end of the polymer and contacting a distal surface of the coil; and

wherein the core is not tapered along its distal portion.

7. The guide wire of claim 6, wherein a portion of the coil extends beyond the distal end of the core by a plurality of turns of the coil.

8. The guide wire of claim 7, wherein the polymer entirely fills the internal area along the portion of the coil that extends beyond the core.

9. The guide wire of claim 7, wherein the portion of the coil extending beyond the distal end of the core has a pitch different from a remaining portion of the coil.

10. A guide wire comprising:

an elongate core defining a proximal end and a distal end;

a continuous, unitary coil having a circular cross-section, exhibiting an outer diameter and an inner diameter surrounding a portion of the core, with a portion of the coil extending beyond the distal end of the core by a plurality of turns of the coil, the inner diameter of the coil defining an internal area inside the coil along the portion of the coil that extends beyond the core;

a polymer contacting the distal end of the core and entirely filling the internal area, without extending beyond a distal end of the coil; and

a metal tip extending from a distal end of the polymer and contacting a distal surface of the coil.

11. A guide wire comprising:

an elongate core composed of a nickel-titanium alloy including a length, a proximal portion, a distal end, and a constant diameter along the length;

a continuous, unitary coil exhibiting an outer diameter and an inner diameter composed of a second material and that surrounds and extends along the length of the core, the inner diameter of the coil defining an internal area inside the coil;

a first polymer contacting the core and at least partially filling the internal area, without extending beyond a distal end of the coil; and

a second polymer defining a tip and extending from a distal end of the first polymer and contacting a distal surface of the coil.

12. The guide wire of claim 11, wherein the coil surrounds the entire length of the core.

13. The guide wire of claim 11, wherein the coil comprises a pitch that varies at least once along the length of the core.

14. The guide wire of claim 11, wherein the coil comprises a coating.

15. The guide wire of claim 14, wherein the coating is lubricious.

16. The guide wire of claim 14, wherein the coating is colored.

17. The guide wire of claim 11, wherein the coil comprises a rectangular cross-section.

18. The guide wire of claim 11, wherein the coil comprises a circular cross-section.

19. The guide wire of claim 11, wherein the coil comprises a multifilar wire.

20. The guide wire of claim 11, wherein the polymeric tip is in contact with a distal portion of the coil.

21. The guide wire of claim 11, wherein a portion of the coil extends beyond the distal end of the core by a plurality of turns of the coil.

22. The guide wire of claim 21, wherein the first polymer entirely fills the internal area along the portion of the coil that extends beyond the core.

23. The guide wire of claim 11, wherein the core is not tapered along its distal portion.

24. A guide wire comprising:

an elongate core composed of a nickel-titanium alloy including a length, a proximal portion, a distal end and a constant diameter along the length;

a continuous, unitary coil exhibiting an outer diameter and an inner diameter composed of a second material comprising stainless steel and that surrounds a portion of the core, the inner diameter of the coil defining an internal area inside the coil;

a polymer contacting the core and at least partially filling the internal area, without extending beyond a distal end of the coil;

a tip extending from a distal end of the polymer and contacting a distal surface of the coil; and

wherein the core is not tapered along its distal portion.

25. The guide wire of claim 24, wherein a portion of the coil extends beyond the distal end of the core by a plurality of turns of the coil.

26. The guide wire of claim 25, wherein the polymer entirely fills the internal area along the portion of the coil that extends beyond the core.

27. The guide wire of claim 25, wherein the portion of the coil extending beyond the distal end of the core has a pitch different from a remaining portion of the coil.

28. A guide wire comprising:

an elongate core composed of a nickel-titanium alloy including a length, a proximal portion, a distal end, and a constant diameter along the length;

a continuous, unitary coil composed of a second material and that surrounds a portion of the core, with a portion of the coil extending beyond the distal end of the core by a plurality of turns of the coil, the inner diameter of the coil defining an internal area inside the coil along the portion of the coil that extends beyond the core; and

a polymer contacting the distal end of the core and entirely filling the internal area, without extending beyond a distal end of the coil; and

a metal tip extending from a distal end of the polymer and contacting a distal surface of the coil.

29. A guide wire comprising:

an elongate core composed of a nickel-titanium alloy including a proximal end and a distal end;

a continuous, unitary coil exhibiting an outer diameter and an inner diameter composed of a second material and that surrounds a portion of the core, wherein the coil comprises a first coil portion having a first pitch and a second coil portion having a second pitch greater than the first pitch;

the inner diameter of the coil defining an internal area inside the coil;

a first polymer contacting the core and at least partially filling the internal area, without extending beyond a distal end of the coil; and

a second polymer defining a tip and extending from a distal end of the first polymer and contacting a distal surface of the coil.

30. The guide wire of claim 29, wherein the second coil portion surrounds the distal end of the core.

31. The guide wire of claim 29, wherein the coil surrounds the entire length of the core.

32. The guide wire of claim 29, wherein the coil extends along the core from the portion of the core near the proximal end of the core to a portion of the core near a distal end of the core.

33. The guide wire of claim 29, wherein the second material comprises stainless steel.

34. The guide wire of claim 29, wherein the second material comprises a precipitation hardenable alloy.

35. The guide wire of claim 29, wherein a distal portion of the core is tapered.

36. The guide wire of claim 29, wherein the tip includes a radio-opaque material.

37. The guide wire of claim 29, wherein the coil comprises a coating.

38. The guide wire of claim 37, wherein the coating is lubricious.

39. The guide wire of claim 37, wherein the coating is colored.

40. The guide wire of claim 29, wherein the coil comprises a rectangular cross-section.

41. The guide wire of claim 29, wherein the coil comprises a circular cross-section.

42. The guide wire of claim 29, wherein the coil comprises a multifilar wire.

43. The guide wire of claim 29, wherein a portion of the coil extends beyond the distal end of the core by a plurality of turns of the coil.

44. The guide wire of claim 43, wherein the first polymer entirely fills the internal area along the portion of the coil that extends beyond the core.

45. The guide wire of claim 29, wherein the core is not tapered along its distal portion.

46. A guide wire comprising:

an elongate core composed of a nickel-titanium alloy including a proximal end and a distal end;

a continuous coil exhibiting an outer diameter and an inner diameter composed of a second material and that surrounds a portion of the core, the inner diameter of the coil defining an internal area inside the coil;

a polymer contacting the core and at least partially filling the internal area, without extending beyond a distal end of the coil;

a tip extending from a distal end of the polymer and contacting a distal surface of the coil; and

wherein the core is not tapered along its distal portion.

47. The guide wire of claim 46, wherein the coil surrounds the entire length of the core.

48. The guide wire of claim 46, wherein the tip includes a radio-opaque material.

49. The guide wire of claim 46, wherein the coil comprises a coating.

50. The guide wire of claim 46, wherein the coil comprises a rectangular cross-section.

51. The guide wire of claim 46, wherein the coil comprises a multifilar wire.

52. The guide wire of claim 46, wherein a portion of the coil extends beyond the distal end of the core by a plurality of turns of the coil.

53. The guide wire of claim 52, wherein the polymer entirely fills the internal area along the portion of the coil that extends beyond the core.

54. The guide wire of claim 52, wherein the portion of the coil extending beyond the distal end of the core has a pitch different from a remaining portion of the coil.