Reformable guidewire tip

• US 10,806,905 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2015
• Issued: 10/20/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Asmus, Bruce H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cerioni, Daniel L
• Application Number:
  US14/816,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20160038719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• Field of Search: 600585
• 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 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00871 polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22042 Details of the tip of the guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320004 abrasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320766 eccentric
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09083 having a coil around a core
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09091 where a sheath surrounds the coil at the distal part
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09141 made of shape memory alloys which take a particular shape at a certain temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09175 having specific characteristics at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0266 Shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

Devices and methods for providing an elastically deforming guidewire tip, capable of withstanding the extreme forces of high-speed rotational atherectomy, in particular orbital motion induced by an eccentric abrasive head, are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the reformable tip comprises an inner nitinol support coil, wherein the reformable tip may be attached to a larger proximal core for improved kink resistance and support for delivering adjunctive devices. In other embodiments, an inner nitinol support coil may be wrapped with a braided coil and/or a polymer sleeve. The resulting tip is more flexible with reduced risk of perforation than known guidewire tips.

Claims

1. A guidewire, comprising:

a core having a proximal end and a distal end and at least partially surrounded by a spring coil comprising wire turns;

a reformable tip having a distal end, a distal tip disposed on the distal end, and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the reformable tip and the distal end of the core are attached, the reformable tip further comprising

a support coil formed from a flattened shape memory material and comprising an external surface, an inner diameter, a non-tapering outer diameter and a pitch, the support coil further comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the support coil in communication with the distal tip and the proximal end of the support coil in attached communication with the distal end of the core such that the core does not extend distally of the proximal end of the support coil, wherein the spring coil further surrounds an external surface of the support coil; and

a loose braid surrounding the external surface of the support coil.

2. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the shape memory material comprises nitinol.

3. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the loose braid is made of one or more of the group consisting of:

stainless steel, nitinol, and a polymer.

4. The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the loose braid is made of one or more of the group consisting of:

stainless steel, nitinol, and a polymer.

5. The guidewire of claim 1, further comprising a polymer sleeve surrounding the external surface of the support coil.

6. The guidewire of claim 5, wherein the polymer sleeve is made of one or more of the group consisting of:

nylon, pebax, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and perfluoroalkoxy polymer resin (PFA).

7. The guidewire of claim 1, further comprising a polymer sleeve surrounding the spring coil.

8. The guidewire of claim 7, wherein the polymer sleeve is made of one or more of the group consisting of:

nylon, pebax, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and perfluoroalkoxy polymer resin (PFA).

9. The guidewire of claim 1, further comprising the wire turns of the guidewire embedded within a polymer sleeve.

10. The guidewire of claim 9, wherein the polymer sleeve is made of one or more of the group consisting of:

nylon, pebax, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and perfluoroalkoxy polymer resin (PFA).

11. A guidewire, comprising:

a core having a proximal end and a distal end and at least partially surrounded by

a spring coil comprising wire turns;

a reformable tip having a distal end, a distal tip disposed on the distal end, and a proximal end, wherein the proximal end of the reformable tip and the distal end of the core are attached, the reformable tip further comprising

a support coil formed from nitinol and comprising an external surface, an inner diameter, a non-tapering outer diameter and a pitch, the support coil further comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the support coil in communication with the distal tip and the proximal end of the support coil in attached communication with the distal end of the core such that the core does not extend distally of the proximal end of the support coil, wherein the spring coil further surrounds an external surface of the support coil; and

a loose braid surrounding the external surface of the support coil.

12. The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the loose braid is made of one or more of the group consisting of:

stainless steel, nitinol, and a polymer.

13. The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the loose braid is made of one or more of the group consisting of:

stainless steel, nitinol, and a polymer.

14. The guidewire of claim 11, further comprising a polymer sleeve surrounding the external surface of the support coil.

15. The guidewire of claim 14, wherein the polymer sleeve is made of one or more of the group consisting of:

nylon, pebax, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and perfluoroalkoxy polymer resin (PFA).

16. The guidewire of claim 11, further comprising a polymer sleeve surrounding the spring coil.

17. The guidewire of claim 16, wherein the polymer sleeve is made of one or more of the group consisting of:

nylon, pebax, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and perfluoroalkoxy polymer resin (PFA).