Corewire design and construction for medical devices
First Claim
1. A guidewire for a device useable in ear, nose and throat procedures, the guidewire comprising:
- a core wire including;
a proximal portion having a length, a first constant cross-sectional area with a circular shape extending a length of the proximal portion and to a proximal terminal end of the core wire;
a cylindrical distal tip having a second cross-sectional area; and
a transitional portion between and adjacent the proximal portion and the distal tip, the transitional portion having a length equal to or less than the length of the proximal portion, a first minimum cross-sectional dimension perpendicular to a second maximum cross-sectional dimension and a third cross-sectional area that is constant along a length of the transitional portion, the length being greater than the second maximum cross-sectional dimension, wherein the second cross-sectional area is greater than the third cross-sectional area, is approximately equal to the first cross-sectional area, and has a diameter less than the second maximum cross-sectional dimension;
an outer coil; and
an inner coil, the inner coil disposed about the cylindrical distal tip and a portion of the transitional portion and within the outer coil.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A guidewire for use in ear, nose and throat procedures may include an elongate core wire having a proximal region and a distal region. The distal region of the core wire may include a flattened portion adapted to provide preferential flexure along at least one axis of the wire. The distal region of the core wire may include a tip portion distal of the flattened portion, where at least one cross-sectional dimension of the tip portion is greater than at least one cross-sectional dimension of the flattened portion. The guidewire may include an outer coil disposed around at least a portion of the elongate core wire. The guidewire may also include an atraumatic tip coupled to the core wire or the outer coil.
796 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A guidewire for a device useable in ear, nose and throat procedures, the guidewire comprising:
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a core wire including; a proximal portion having a length, a first constant cross-sectional area with a circular shape extending a length of the proximal portion and to a proximal terminal end of the core wire; a cylindrical distal tip having a second cross-sectional area; and a transitional portion between and adjacent the proximal portion and the distal tip, the transitional portion having a length equal to or less than the length of the proximal portion, a first minimum cross-sectional dimension perpendicular to a second maximum cross-sectional dimension and a third cross-sectional area that is constant along a length of the transitional portion, the length being greater than the second maximum cross-sectional dimension, wherein the second cross-sectional area is greater than the third cross-sectional area, is approximately equal to the first cross-sectional area, and has a diameter less than the second maximum cross-sectional dimension; an outer coil; and an inner coil, the inner coil disposed about the cylindrical distal tip and a portion of the transitional portion and within the outer coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A guidewire for use in ear, nose and throat procedures, the guidewire comprising:
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an elongate core wire having a proximal region and a distal region, the proximal region of the core wire having; a proximal portion having a length, a proximal portion maximum width and a proximal portion constant cross-sectional area extending a length of the proximal portion and to a proximal terminal end of the core wire; a flattened portion adjacent to the proximal portion adapted to provide preferential flexure along at least one axis of the wire, the flattened portion having a length equal to or less than the length of the proximal portion, a first minimum cross-sectional dimension perpendicular to a second maximum cross-sectional dimension and defining a cross-sectional area that is constant along a length of the flattened portion that is greater than the second maximum dimension, the second maximum cross-sectional dimension being greater than the proximal portion maximum width; and a tip portion adjacent to and distal of the flattened portion, the tip portion having a cross-sectional area defining a circular pattern and having a diameter wherein at least one cross-sectional dimension of the tip portion is greater than at least one cross-sectional dimension of the flattened portion and approximately equal to the proximal portion cross-sectional area and the diameter is less than the second maximum cross-sectional dimension; an inner coil disposed around the tip portion and a portion of the flattened portion; an outer coil disposed around at least a portion of the elongate core wire and the inner coil; and an atraumatic tip coupled to the core wire or the outer coil and placed adjacent the inner coil. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of making a guidewire for use in ear, nose and throat procedures, the method comprising:
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fabricating an elongate core wire having a proximal section and a distal section, the proximal section having a length, a proximal section cross-sectional area adjacent the distal section extending a length of the proximal section and to a proximal terminal end of the core wire, and a proximal section maximum width; configuring a portion of the distal section to have preferential flexibility along at least one axis of the portion, the distal section having a length equal to or less than the length of the proximal section, a first minimum cross-sectional dimension perpendicular to a second maximum cross-sectional dimension and defining a cross-sectional area that is constant along a length that is greater than the second maximum dimension, the second maximum cross-sectional dimension being greater than the proximal section maximum width; configuring a cylindrical distal tip portion adjacent the portion of the distal section having preferential flexibility, the distal tip portion having at least one cross sectional dimension greater than at least one cross sectional dimension of the preferentially flexible portion and having a distal tip cross-sectional area approximately equal to proximal section cross-sectional area; disposing an inner coil around the cylindrical distal tip portion and a portion of the distal section; and disposing an outer coil around at least part of a length of the core wire and around the inner coil. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification