Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A guidewire for navigating through body vessels, said guidewire having a proximal end, a
distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said guidewire comprising: 1. an outer tube having proximal and distal ends, said outer tube is made from a
material exhibiting substantially no shape memory retention; 2. a flexible distal tip attached to said distal end of said outer tube and extending
distally thereto; and 3. a core wire having distal and proximal ends, said distal end of said core wire is made
from a material exhibiting shape memory retention, said core wire can slide
longitudinally within said tube between a retracted position, where said distal end of
said core wire is proximal to said flexible distal tip and takes the shape of said outer
tube, and an extended position, wherein said distal end of said core wire is distal to
said distal end of said outer tube so that it can return to a preformed shape.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
30 words
The guidewire according to claim 1 wherein said distal tip of said core wire has a preformed
shape which is at an angle to said longitudinal axis of said guidewire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The guidewire according to claim 1 wherein said distal tip of said core wire comprises
Nitinol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The guidewire according to claim 1 wherein said distal tip of said guidewire tapers distally.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The guidewire according to claim 1 further including a means for preventing the removal of
said core wire from said tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The guidewire according to claim 1 wherein said flexible distal tip of said guidewire
comprises a coiled spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The guidewire according to Claim 6 wherein said coiled spring is made from a material
substantially exhibiting shape memory retention.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The guidewire according to claim 7 wherein said coiled spring comprises Nitinol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
170 words
A guidewire for navigating through body vessels, said guidewire having a proximal end, a
distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said guidewire comprising: 1. an outer tube having proximal and distal ends, said outer tube is made from a
material exhibiting substantially no shape memory retention; 2. a flexible distal tip attached to said distal end of said outer tube and extending
distally thereto, said distal tip comprising a coiled spring made from a material
substantially exhibiting shape memory retention; and 3. a core wire having distal and proximal ends, said distal end of said core wire is made
from Nitinol, said core wire can slide longitudinally within said tube between a
retracted position, where said distal end of said core wire is proximal to said flexible
distal tip and takes the shape of said outer tube, and an extended position, wherein
said distal end of said core wire is distal to said distal end of said outer tube so that
it can return to a preformed shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The guidewire according to claim 9 wherein said distal tip of said core wire has a preformed
shape which is at an angle to said longitudinal axis of said guidewire.