Guidewire for crossing occlusions or stenoses

• US 8,043,312 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2005
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Revascular Therapeutics Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Sudaria, Rudolfo, Chechelski, Victor, Noriega, Gerardo V.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VI X
• Application Number:
  US11/146,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20050228418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,332 Days
• Field of Search: 606/159, 606167-168, 606170-171, 606/180, 606/113, 606/114, 606/194, 600/585, 604/508, 604/523, 604/528, 604/585, 604/22
• US Class Current: 606/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3207 Atherectomy devices working by cutting or abrading; Similar devices specially adapted for non-vascular obstructions A61B17/32037 takes precedence; endoscopic cutting instruments A61B17/320016
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/50 Instruments, other than pincettes or toothpicks, for removing foreign bodies from the human body locating otherwise A61B5/06; locating by radiation A61B6/00; removing calculi A61B17/22; from the eyes A61F9/00709
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22042 Details of the tip of the guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22044 with a pointed tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22069 Immobilising; Stabilising
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22077 with a part piercing the tissue A61B2017/22044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320004 abrasive

Abstract

Systems and methods for crossing stenosis, partial occlusions, or complete occlusions within a body lumen. The systems generally include an elongate member such as a hollow guidewire that houses a rotatable and translatable drive shaft. The drive shaft typically has a distal portion that is advanced to create a path in the occlusive material that is large enough to allow the hollow guidewire to cross the occlusive material.

Claims

1. A guidewire device for creating or enlarging a passageway in occlusive material in a body lumen, comprising:

a flexible guidewire body comprising a proximal solid-walled tubular member coupled to a distal tubular coil, said guidewire body having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axial passage; and

a shaft extending through the axial passage of the guidewire body and having a distal cutting tip extending beyond the distal end of the guidewire body, wherein activation of the distal cutting tip of the shaft creates the passageway or enlarges the passageway through the occlusive material in the body lumen;

wherein the distal tubular coil of the guidewire body is more flexible than the proximal solid walled tubular member of the guidewire body; and

wherein the guidewire body has an outer diameter between approximately 0.009 inches and approximately 0.040 inches.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a housing coupled to the proximal end of the guidewire body.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the housing is fixedly coupled to the guidewire body.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the guidewire body comprises varying degrees of stiffness along its length.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the guidewire body is coupled to a vacuum source or a fluid source such that the target site can be aspirated or infused through the axial passage.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the movement of the tip comprises rotation, translation, reciprocation, and/or vibration.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the guidewire body has a torqueability ratio between the proximal end and distal end of approximately 1:

1.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the guidewire body is radiopaque.

9. A flexible guidewire device for creating or enlarging a passageway in occlusive material in a body lumen, the device having a torqueability ratio from a proximal end to a distal end of approximately 1:

1, comprising;

a flexible guidewire body comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and an axial passage, the flexible guidewire body including a proximal solid-walled tubular member coupled to a distal tubular member and having an outer diameter between about 0.09 inches and about 0.040 inches; and

a rotatable drive shaft extending through the axial passage of the guidewire body and having a distal cutting tip extending beyond the distal end of the guidewire body, wherein the distal cutting tip of the shaft comprises a rounded end or a plurality of connected filaments;

wherein the distal tip comprises a plurality of cutting edges; and

wherein the proximal end of the guidewire body is coupled to a vacuum source or a fluid source such that the target site can be aspirated or infused through the axial passage.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a housing coupled to the proximal end of the guidewire body.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the housing is fixedly coupled to the guidewire body.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the guidewire body comprises varying degrees of stiffness along its length.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the distal tubular member of the guidewire body is more flexible than the proximal solid walled tubular member of the guidewire body.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the distal end of the guidewire body is radiopaque.