Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A guide wire having a progressively attenuated diameter, comprising an elongate core element having proximal and distal ends and having a decreasing cross sectional area in a direction towards the distal end, a coil carried by, surrounding and secured to said core element, said coil having proximal and distal ends, said coil having a diameter which decreases in a direction towards the distal end, said coil being formed of a wire which has a diameter which decreases from one end to the other end and which is wound in a-helix so that the larger diameter wire begins in a region closer to the proximal end and the smaller diameter wire ends in a region closer to the distal end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A guide wire having a progressively attenuated diameter, comprising an elongate core element having proximal and distal ends and having a decreasing cross sectional area in a direction towards the distal end, a coil carried by, surrounding and secured to said core element, said coil having proximal and distal ends, said coil having a diameter which decreases in a direction towards the distal end, said coil being formed of a wire which has a diameter which decreases from one end to the other end and which is wound in a-helix so that the larger diameter wire begins in a region closer to the proximal end and the smaller diameter wire ends in a region closer to the distal end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A guide wire as in claim 1, comprising a second coil formed of a radiepaque material having an end juxtaposed to the distal extremity of the first named coil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A guide wire as in claim 2 wherein said second coil has a substantially uniform diameter and a rounded tip carried by the distal extremity of the second coil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A guide wire as in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the juxtaposed ends of the first named and second coils are screwed together and are bonded to the core element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A guide wire as in any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a third coil having proximal and distal ends carried by the core element and having its distal end juxtaposed to the proximal end of the first named coil and means forming a bond between the juxtaposed ends of the first named and third coil and the core element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A guide wire as in claim 5 wherein said third coil is covered with a plastic coating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A guide wire as in claim 5 or claim 6 together with polyethylene tubing carried by the proximal extremity of the core element and having its distal extremity juxtaposed to the proximal extremity of the third coil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A guide wire as in any one of the preceding claims wherein said elongate core element has cylindrical portions of different diameters and tapered portions of different diameters adjoining said cylindrical portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A guide wire as in any one of the preceding claims wherein said coil is formed of a wire having cylindrical portions of different diameters with tapered portions of different diameters adjoining the same.