Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
A steerable guidewire having a deflectable tip which comprises: flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and inner and outer surfaces, said distal end having an external annular recess, a helically wound flexible spring coil having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of said spring coil fitting over said external annular recess and being attached to the flexible tubing at the proximal portion of said external annular recess, and the distal end of said spring coil comprising stretched coils, a deflection wire extending through the flexible tubing and spring coil, said deflection wire having proximal and distal ends, a rounded tip engaging the distal end of the spring coil and the distal end of the deflection wire, and control means attached to the proximal end of the flexible tubing, wherein the proximal end of the deflection wire is engaged by an engaging member, the control means having rotation means and deflection means such that when the rotation means is rotated, the distal end of the spring coil rotates about its longitudinal axis and that when the deflection means is activated, the engaging means moves in an axial direction to cause said deflection wire to move relative to the tubing to cause the distal end of the guidewire to move toward or away from the line of the longitudinal axis of the guidewire.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
A steerable guidewire having a deflectable tip which comprises: flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and inner and outer surfaces, said distal end having an external annular recess, a helically wound flexible spring coil having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of said spring coil fitting over said external annular recess and being attached to the flexible tubing at the proximal portion of said external annular recess, and the distal end of said spring coil comprising stretched coils, a deflection wire extending through the flexible tubing and spring coil, said deflection wire having proximal and distal ends, a rounded tip engaging the distal end of the spring coil and the distal end of the deflection wire, and control means attached to the proximal end of the flexible tubing, wherein the proximal end of the deflection wire is engaged by an engaging member, the control means having rotation means and deflection means such that when the rotation means is rotated, the distal end of the spring coil rotates about its longitudinal axis and that when the deflection means is activated, the engaging means moves in an axial direction to cause said deflection wire to move relative to the tubing to cause the distal end of the guidewire to move toward or away from the line of the longitudinal axis of the guidewire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the spring coil means is attached to the flexible tubing by a weld, a braze, or solder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the spring coil is radiopaque.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the guidewire has a lubricous coating thereon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the guidewire has a control wire having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the control wire being attached to said spring coil proximal to the stretched coils and the distal end of the control wire being engaged by the rounded tip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The guidewire of claim 5, wherein the proximal end of the control wire is attached to said spring coil by a weld, a brazed joint, or solder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
268 words
A steerable guidewire having a deflectable tip which comprises: flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and inner and outer surfaces, the distal end of the flexible tubing having an external annular recess, a helically wound flexible spring coil having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of said spring coil fitting over said external annular recess and being attached by a weld, a brazed joint, or solder to the flexible tubing at the proximal portion of said external annular recess, and the distal end of said spring coil comprising stretched coils, a deflection wire extending through the flexible tubing and spring coil, said deflection wire having proximal and distal ends, a control wire having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the control wire being attached to said spring coil proximal to the stretched coils, a rounded tip engaging the distal end of the spring coil, the distal end of the deflection wire, and the distal end of the control wire, and control means attached to the proximal end of the flexible tubing, wherein the proximal end of the deflection wire is engaged by an engaging member, the control means having rotation means and deflection means such that when the rotation means is rotated, the distal end of the spring coil rotates about its longitudinal axis and that when the deflection means is activated, the engaging means moves in an axial direction to cause said deflection wire to move relative to the tubing to cause the distal end of the guidewire to move toward or away from the line of the longitudinal axis of the guidewire.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
268 words
A steerable guidewire having a deflectable tip which comprises: flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and inner and outer surfaces, the distal end of the flexible tubing having an external annular recess, a helically wound flexible spring coil having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of said spring coil fitting over said external annular recess and being attached by a weld, a brazed joint, or solder to the flexible tubing at the proximal portion of said external annular recess, and the distal end of said spring coil comprising stretched coils, a deflection wire extending through the flexible tubing and spring coil, said deflection wire having proximal and distal ends, a control wire having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the control wire being attached to said spring coil proximal to the stretched coils, a rounded tip engaging the distal end of the spring coil, the distal end of the deflection wire, and the distal end of the control wire, and control means attached to the proximal end of the flexible tubing, wherein the proximal end of the deflection wire is engaged by an engaging member, the control means having rotation means and deflection means such that when the rotation means is rotated, the distal end of the spring coil rotates about its longitudinal axis and that when the deflection means is activated, the engaging means moves in an axial direction to cause said deflection wire to move relative to the tubing to cause the distal end of the guidewire to move toward or away from the line of the longitudinal axis of the guidewire.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The guidewire of claim 7, wherein the proximal end of the control wire is attached to said spring coil by a weld, a brazed joint, or solder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The guidewire of claim 7, wherein the spring coil is radiopaque.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The guidewire of claim 7, wherein the guidewire has a lubricous coating thereon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
119 words
A steerable guidewire having a deflectable tip which comprises: flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and inner and outer surfaces, said distal end having an external annular recess, a helically wound flexible spring coil having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of said spring coil fitting over said external annular recess and being attached to the flexible tubing at the proximal portion of said external annular recess, and the distal end of said spring coil comprising stretched coils, a deflection wire extending through the flexible tubing and spring coil, said deflection wire having proximal and distal ends, and a rounded tip engaging the distal end of the spring coil and the distal end of the deflection wire.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
119 words
A steerable guidewire having a deflectable tip which comprises: flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and inner and outer surfaces, said distal end having an external annular recess, a helically wound flexible spring coil having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of said spring coil fitting over said external annular recess and being attached to the flexible tubing at the proximal portion of said external annular recess, and the distal end of said spring coil comprising stretched coils, a deflection wire extending through the flexible tubing and spring coil, said deflection wire having proximal and distal ends, and a rounded tip engaging the distal end of the spring coil and the distal end of the deflection wire.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the proximal end of the spring coil means is attached to the flexible tubing by a weld, a brazed joint, or solder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the spring coil is radiopaque.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the guidewire has a lubricous coating thereon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The guidewire of claim 11, wherein the guidewire has a control wire having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the control wire being attached to said spring coil proximal to the stretched coils and the distal end of the control wire being engaged by the rounded tip.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The guidewire of claim 15, wherein the proximal end of the control wire is attached to said spring coil by a weld, a brazed joint, or solder.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
164 words
A steerable guidewire having a deflectable tip which comprises: flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and inner and outer surfaces, the distal end of the flexible tubing having an external annular recess, a helically wound flexible spring coil having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of said spring coil fitting over said external annular recess and being attached by a weld, a brazed joint, or solder to the flexible tubing at the proximal portion of said external annular recess, and the distal end of said spring coil comprising stretched coils, a deflection wire extending through the flexible tubing and spring coil, said deflection wire having proximal and distal ends, a control wire having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the control wire being attached to said spring coil proximal to the stretched coils, and a rounded tip engaging the distal end of the spring coil, the distal end of the deflection wire, and the distal end of the control wire.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
164 words
A steerable guidewire having a deflectable tip which comprises: flexible tubing having proximal and distal ends and inner and outer surfaces, the distal end of the flexible tubing having an external annular recess, a helically wound flexible spring coil having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of said spring coil fitting over said external annular recess and being attached by a weld, a brazed joint, or solder to the flexible tubing at the proximal portion of said external annular recess, and the distal end of said spring coil comprising stretched coils, a deflection wire extending through the flexible tubing and spring coil, said deflection wire having proximal and distal ends, a control wire having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the control wire being attached to said spring coil proximal to the stretched coils, and a rounded tip engaging the distal end of the spring coil, the distal end of the deflection wire, and the distal end of the control wire.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The guidewire of claim 17, wherein the proximal end of the control wire is attached to said spring coil by a weld, a brazed joint, or solder.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The guidewire of claim 17, wherein the spring coil is radiopaque.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The guidewire of claim 17, wherein the guidewire has a lubricous coating thereon.