Guidewire tip construction

• US 7,998,088 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Shireman, Brice, Vrba, Anthony, Reynolds, Brian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US11/426,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20060235337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,877 Days
• Field of Search: 600/585, 600433-435, 623/1.35, 606/191
• 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 proximal end and a distal end;

an atraumatic tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft;

a distal stop comprising polytetrafluoroethylene disposed on the elongate shaft proximal of the atraumatic tip;

a proximal stop comprising polytetrafluoroethylene disposed on the elongate shaft proximal of the distal stop;

an inner coil disposed about the elongate shaft between the proximal stop and the distal stop; and

an outer coil disposed about the elongate shaft and about the inner coil;

wherein the inner coil is not fixedly secured directly to the elongate shaft;

wherein the outer coil is wound about the elongate shaft in a first direction and the inner coil is wound about the elongate shaft in a second direction, and wherein the first direction is substantially opposite of the second direction.

2. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the inner coil comprises a distal end disposed adjacent the distal stop and a proximal end disposed adjacent the proximal stop.

3. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft comprises stainless steel, a nickel-titanium alloy or a composite of both.

4. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the inner coil is radiopaque.

5. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the inner coil comprises one of platinum, gold or tungsten alloy.

6. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the outer coil comprises stainless steel or nickel-titanium alloy.

7. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the outer coil comprises a distal end and a proximal end.

8. The guidewire of claim 7, wherein the outer coil distal end is coupled to the atraumatic tip.

9. The guidewire of claim 7, wherein the outer coil proximal end is coupled to the elongate shaft.