Medical device for navigation through anatomy and method of making same
First Claim
1. A medical device, comprising:
- an elongate core member having a proximal region and a distal region;
a tubular member disposed over the distal region, the tubular member having a plurality of slots formed therein and having a longitudinal axis;
a material disposed between the elongate core member and the tubular member, wherein the material fills or partially fills at least some of the slots;
wherein the tubular member includes a nickel-titanium alloy;
wherein the plurality of slots are arranged in a plurality of groups that are disposed at the same position along the longitudinal axis of the tubular member; and
wherein each of the plurality of groups includes three or more slots.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Medical devices for navigation through anatomy, including guidewires, which may have a core wire, a slotted tubular member, or both. Embodiments may have coils, including non-circular cross-section edge-wound marker coils, extended coil tips, and soldered or glued mesial joint coils. Core wires may have a step, ridge, or taper at the joints to the tubular member, and may be flattened at the distal tip. Radiopaque material may be located inside the tubular member, and the distal tip may be heat treated to make it shapeable. Additional tubular members or coils may be used concentrically or in line and may enhance flexibility, provide radiopacity, reduce friction, or reduce material or manufacturing cost. Tubular members may be chamfered or tapered continuously or incrementally. Slots may be arranged in groups, such as groups of three, and may be equal in depth or unequal in depth to provide a steerable or compressible tip.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A medical device, comprising:
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an elongate core member having a proximal region and a distal region; a tubular member disposed over the distal region, the tubular member having a plurality of slots formed therein and having a longitudinal axis; a material disposed between the elongate core member and the tubular member, wherein the material fills or partially fills at least some of the slots; wherein the tubular member includes a nickel-titanium alloy; wherein the plurality of slots are arranged in a plurality of groups that are disposed at the same position along the longitudinal axis of the tubular member; and wherein each of the plurality of groups includes three or more slots. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A medical device, comprising:
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an elongate core member having a proximal region and a distal region; a tubular member disposed adjacent to the distal region, the tubular member including a longitudinal axis and a plurality of rings that are interconnected by groups of beams; wherein the tubular member includes a nickel-titanium alloy; wherein each of the groups of beams includes three or more beams disposed about the tubular member at the same position along the longitudinal axis of the tubular member; wherein slots are defined in the tubular member between the beams in each of the groups of beams and at least some of the slots in at least one of the groups are unequally sized; and a material disposed between the core wire and the tubular member, wherein the material fills or partially fills at least some of the slots. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A medical device, comprising:
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a core wire; a nickel-titanium alloy tubular member coupled to the core wire, the tubular member comprising a first ring and a second ring that are interconnected by three beams extending longitudinally between the first ring and the second ring and having a plurality of slots; and a material disposed between the core wire and the tubular member, wherein the material fills or partially fills at least some of the slots.
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Specification