Total occlusion guidewire device

• US 8,118,827 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2003
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cordis Corporation (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Inventors: Duerig, Thomas W., Hojeibane, Hikmat, Majercak, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Victor
• Application Number:
  US10/388,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20030139763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,266 Days
• Field of Search: 606/127, 606/198, 606/200, 606/159, 606/114, 606/128, 600/434, 600/585, 604104-107
• US Class Current: 606/198
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22 Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on the inside of inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; Calculus removers; Calculus smashing apparatus; Apparatus for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for dilators A61M29/00
• 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 2017/22042 Details of the tip of the guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22044 with a pointed tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22068 Centering
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22069 Immobilising; Stabilising
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320004 abrasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09183 having tools at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0905 extendable, e.g. mechanisms for extension

Abstract

A guidewire having a spreader or at least one centering device which may be used to open occluded vessels or other biological passages, especially chronic total occlusions. The guidewire may be used to either open the lumen or to center a boring device within the lumen, so that the chronic total occlusion can be crossed, and an interventional procedure can then be performed.

Claims

1. A total occlusion guidewire configured for crossing a totally occluded vessel, said guidewire comprising:

a flexible wire having an outer diameter, an inner diameter, a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough;

a spreader comprising a structure having its longest length and its smallest diameter in a closed position and its shortest length and largest diameter in its expanded position and which is configured to expand and contract attached to the distal end of the flexible wire, the spreader comprising a plurality of first spiral longitudinally oriented struts having first and second ends, a plurality of second spiral longitudinally oriented struts having first and second ends, and a proximal end and a distal end, the first ends of the plurality of first longitudinally oriented struts being connected to the proximal end and the second ends of the plurality of first longitudinally oriented struts being connected to the first ends of the plurality of second longitudinally oriented struts such that it forms an articulation point for expansion and contraction of the spreader, and the second ends of the plurality of second longitudinally oriented struts being connected to the distal end, the first and second plurality of struts being configured to expand surrounding tissue, the plurality of first longitudinally oriented struts and the plurality of second longitudinally oriented struts being oriented in the same longitudinal direction;

said spreader comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, and a plurality of hingedly connected struts extending therebetween; and

a core wire being slidably positioned within the lumen of the flexible wire for moving the spreader between the contracted and expanded states, the core wire being slidably moveable in a distal direction through the lumen of the flexible wire to make contact with the distal end of the spreader to move the spreader into a contracted state and slidably moveable in a proximal direction through the lumen of the flexible wire to make contact with the proximal end of the spreader to move the spreader into an expanded state.

2. The guidewire according to claim 1, wherein said flexible wire is made from super-elastic Nickel-Titanium alloy.

3. The guidewire according to claim 1, wherein said flexible wire incorporates segments made from a polymeric material.

4. The guidewire according to claim 1, wherein said spreader is made from super-elastic Nickel Titanium alloy.

5. The guidewire according to claim 1, wherein said flexible wire and said spreader are both made from super-elastic Nickel-Titanium alloy.