Variable stiffness guidewire systems and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a variable stiffness guidewire including a guidewire body, the guidewire body having a proximal end and a distal end;
an actuator interface at the proximal end of the guidewire body and including an inner canister and an outer canister at least partially telescoping relative to one another;
a tension cable coupled to the outer canister and coupled to the distal end of the guidewire body, the tension cable movable within the inner canister; and
an actuator couplable to the actuator interface and configured to move the outer canister relative to the inner canister to vary the stiffness of the guidewire, wherein the stiffness is adjusted by moving the outer canister distally relative to the inner canister and the actuator includes a crimper configured to maintain the stiffness of the guidewire body at the desired stiffness.
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Abstract
Guidewires, actuators and methods of using the guidewires and actuators are described. These tools and methods allow a user to select and maintain different guidewire stiffness characteristics such that a single guidewire can address a range of access capabilities.
70 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a variable stiffness guidewire including a guidewire body, the guidewire body having a proximal end and a distal end; an actuator interface at the proximal end of the guidewire body and including an inner canister and an outer canister at least partially telescoping relative to one another; a tension cable coupled to the outer canister and coupled to the distal end of the guidewire body, the tension cable movable within the inner canister; and an actuator couplable to the actuator interface and configured to move the outer canister relative to the inner canister to vary the stiffness of the guidewire, wherein the stiffness is adjusted by moving the outer canister distally relative to the inner canister and the actuator includes a crimper configured to maintain the stiffness of the guidewire body at the desired stiffness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A variable stiffness guidewire comprising:
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a guidewire body, the guidewire body having a proximal end and a distal end; an actuator interface at the proximal end of the guidewire body and including an inner canister and an outer canister at least partially telescoping relative to one another, wherein the stiffness is adjusted by moving the outer canister distally relative to the inner canister and the actuator interface includes a crimper configured to maintain the stiffness of the guidewire body at the desired stiffness; and a tension cable coupled to the outer canister, coupled to the distal end of the guidewire body and movable within the inner canister. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A variable stiffness guidewire comprising:
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a guidewire body, the guidewire body having a proximal end and a distal end; a floppy tip having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the floppy tip coupled to the distal end of the guidewire body, the flexibility of the floppy tip being greater at the distal end of the floppy tip than at the proximal end of floppy tip; an actuator interface at the proximal end of the guidewire body and including an inner canister and an outer canister at least partially telescoping relative to one another, wherein the stiffness is adjusted by moving the outer canister distally relative to the inner canister and the actuator interface includes a crimper configured to maintain the stiffness of the guidewire body at the desired stiffness; and a tension cable coupled to the actuator interface and coupled to the floppy tip. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification