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US4846186A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Flexible guidewire

Assignee: Cordis Corp
•
Filing: 1988-01-12
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Granted: 1989-07-11
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Expires: 2008-01-12
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Abstract

Abstract A guidewire suited for inserting both diagnostic and therapeutic catheters. The guidewire has an initial uniform diameter segment that is coated with Telfon along a majority of its length. This core station tapers along a uniform portion to a second constant diameter segment surrounded by a flexible spring tip. The core again tapers in a region where the flexible spring separates from the core. The core is then flattened to increase flexibility within the flexible spring and the flattened core and spring are brazed together at a extreme distal tip portion to form a hemispherical distal guidewire tip.

Inventors

  • 👤 John W. Box
  • 👤 James V. Donadio

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 15:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/09; A61M2025/09175

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 172 words
An elongated flexible guidewire for positioning within a patient comprising: (a) a flexible wire core having a first diameter portion extending from a proximal end to a distal region of the guidewire and that tapers uniformly along a first tapered portion of said wire core to a second lesser diameter portion shorter than said first diameter portion and that again tapers uniformly along a second tapered portion to a flattened distal portion of said wire core; (b) a flexible coiled wire spring that surrounds the wire core and is attached to said core along the length of the second lesser diameter portion of the flexible wire core and that separates from the core wire at a proximal portion of the second tapered portion, extends along the second tapered and flattened distal portions, and is attached to the flattened distal portion of said wire core at a distal end of the guidewire; and (c) a plastic coating covering all but an extreme proximal portion of the first diameter portion of said wire core.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 172 words
An elongated flexible guidewire for positioning within a patient comprising: (a) a flexible wire core having a first diameter portion extending from a proximal end to a distal region of the guidewire and that tapers uniformly along a first tapered portion of said wire core to a second lesser diameter portion shorter than said first diameter portion and that again tapers uniformly along a second tapered portion to a flattened distal portion of said wire core; (b) a flexible coiled wire spring that surrounds the wire core and is attached to said core along the length of the second lesser diameter portion of the flexible wire core and that separates from the core wire at a proximal portion of the second tapered portion, extends along the second tapered and flattened distal portions, and is attached to the flattened distal portion of said wire core at a distal end of the guidewire; and (c) a plastic coating covering all but an extreme proximal portion of the first diameter portion of said wire core.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
The guidewire of claim 1 where the coiled spring is attached to said flattened distal portion of said wire core with a brazing material which forms a rounded distal tip of the guidewire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 54 words
The guidewire of claim 1 where a portion of the coiled wire spring attached to the second lesser diameter portion of the core is closely packed with adjacent coils touching and a portion of the coiled wire spring that overlies the second tapered and flattened distal portions is wound with gaps between adjacent coils.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 38 words
The guidewire of claim 1 where the coiled wire spring has a relatively uniform diameter from the region attached to the lesser diameter core wire to the portion attached to the distal end of the flattened distal portion.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4619274A Cited
US4721117A Cited
US4763647A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-07-10 1993-01-09 1993-07-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-07-10 1997-01-09 1997-07-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-07-10 2001-01-09 2001-07-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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