Catheter guide

Claim 1

A catheter guide in stylet form adapted for insertion into and withdrawal from a catheter comprising in combination: a. a wire of substantially uniform diameter composed of material sufficiently flexible to be configured by the hands into a desired shape, said wire having enough rigidity to maintain its shape indefinitely after configuration, the length of said wire between its ends being longer than the catheter into which it is to be used; b. a coating of polymer material, as, for example, polyolefin, securely attached to the surface of said wire including both ends thereof for completely enclosing and hermetically sealing said wire, said polymer coating possessing a pliable characteristic to accommodate the desired bending of said wire without separation from said wire and without rupture of the hermetic seal, said polymer coating having a smooth, self-lubricating surface to reduce friction during the insertion into and withdrawal of the coated wire from the catheter; and c. an adjustable stop of resilient material having a shoulder portion and a rear surface, said stop further having a central bore extending therethrough between the shoulder portion and the rear surface, said bore being of a size at the rear surface opening to receive at least two diameters of said coated wire said stop being slideably mounted on said coated wire for establishing the depth of penetration of one end of said coated wire into the catheter by the abutment of the shoulder portion of said stop against the open end of the catheter, the other end of said coated wire being adapted for insertion into the said opening at the rear surface of said stop for forming a handle.