US5040543A — Movable core guidewire

Claim 1

Independent Claim 117 words

A movable core guidewire for guiding a catheter to a selected site within the body, comprising: an elongate, flexible helical coil having a proximal and distal end, said helical coil having a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough from the proximal to the distal end for slidably receiving a movable core wire; and a movable core wire having a proximal and distal end and a flexible, lubricious polymeric extension tip attached to and extending from the distal end of the core wire, the extension tip being adapted to flex and follow curved configurations of the coil thereby to guide the core wire through the curved portions of the coil to prevent the core wire from striking through the coil.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 117 words

A movable core guidewire for guiding a catheter to a selected site within the body, comprising: an elongate, flexible helical coil having a proximal and distal end, said helical coil having a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough from the proximal to the distal end for slidably receiving a movable core wire; and a movable core wire having a proximal and distal end and a flexible, lubricious polymeric extension tip attached to and extending from the distal end of the core wire, the extension tip being adapted to flex and follow curved configurations of the coil thereby to guide the core wire through the curved portions of the coil to prevent the core wire from striking through the coil.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

A movable core guidewire as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a safety wire extending longitudinally from the proximal to the distal end.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 32 words

A movable core guidewire as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the flexible polymer tip extension extends distally up to three millimeters beyond the distal tip of the movable core wire.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

A movable core guidewire as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein the flexible polymeric extension extends distally about 1 mm beyond the distal tip of the movable core wire.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

A movable core guidewire as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the polymeric tip extension is a hollow tubular member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 39 words

A movable core guidewire as defined in claim 5 wherein the polymeric element comprises a tube heat shrunk onto the distal end of the core wire, the tubular tip extension comprising the distal tip of the heat shrunk tube.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 39 words

A movable core guidewire as defined in claim 6 wherein the tip extension is necked down to a smaller outer diameter than the portion of the polymeric element that is disposed on the distal tip of the core wire.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 15 words

A movable core guidewire as defined in claim 5 wherein the polymeric extension is open-ended.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

A movable core guidewire as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the polymeric tip extension is a solid member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

A movable core guidewire as claimed in claim 9 wherein the end of the polymeric extension is close-ended.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

A movable core guidewire as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the distal portion of the movable core wire is tapered.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 33 words

A movable core guidewire as claimed in claim 11 wherein the outside diameter of the polymeric extension narrows from the distal tip of the core wire to the distal tip of the extension.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

A movable core guidewire as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a tip joint at the distal end of the helical coil.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

A movable core guidewire as claimed in claim 2 wherein the movable core is coated with a lubricious polymer.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 26 words

A movable core guidewire as claimed in claim 2 wherein the movable core is coated with a lubricious polymer over a substantial portion of its length.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

A movable core guidewire as claimed in claim 2 wherein the polymeric element is made of a polymer selected from the group consisting of a polytetrafluoroethylene or tetrafluoroethylene.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 15 words

A movable core guidewire as claimed in claim 2 wherein the polymeric extension is open-ended.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 26 words

A movable core guidewire as defined in claim 17 wherein the polymeric element comprises a tube heat shrunk onto the distal tip of the core wire.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 39 words

A movable core guidewire as defined in claim 18 wherein the tip extension is necked down to a smaller outer diameter than the portion of the polymeric element that is disposed on the distal tip of the core wire.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 18 words

A movable core guidewire as claimed in claim 2 wherein the end of the polymeric extension is closed-ended.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 188 words

A movable core guidewire for guiding a catheter to a selected site within the body comprising: an elongate flexible helical coil having a proximal end and a distal end, the helical coil having a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough from the proximal to the distal end for slidably receiving a movable core wire; a movable core wire having a proximal end and a distal end and being slidably received in the lumen of the helical coil, a distal portion of the core wire being tapered and terminating in a distal tip smaller in diameter than the more proximal portions of the core wire; an elongate flexible tubular element formed from a flexible polymeric material mounted on the distal end of the tapered portion and having a tip extension extending distally beyond the distal tip of the core wire, the tip extension being dimensioned with respect to the core wire and helical coil such that when the tip extension engages the inner surface of the helical coil, the extension will deform in a manner that resists the tip of the core wire from protruding between a pair of adjacent coils.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 188 words

A movable core guidewire for guiding a catheter to a selected site within the body comprising: an elongate flexible helical coil having a proximal end and a distal end, the helical coil having a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough from the proximal to the distal end for slidably receiving a movable core wire; a movable core wire having a proximal end and a distal end and being slidably received in the lumen of the helical coil, a distal portion of the core wire being tapered and terminating in a distal tip smaller in diameter than the more proximal portions of the core wire; an elongate flexible tubular element formed from a flexible polymeric material mounted on the distal end of the tapered portion and having a tip extension extending distally beyond the distal tip of the core wire, the tip extension being dimensioned with respect to the core wire and helical coil such that when the tip extension engages the inner surface of the helical coil, the extension will deform in a manner that resists the tip of the core wire from protruding between a pair of adjacent coils.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 139 words

A movable core guidewire as defined in claim 21 wherein the helical coil, guidewire and polymeric tip element are dimensioned to be in the following proportions: said helical coil being formed from wire about 0.007" in diameter and being wound into a coil having an outer diameter of about 0.035" to about 0.038"; the core wire being formed from stainless steel and having a diameter along most of its length of approximately 0.016" to 0.018" and tapering, at its distal tip to a diameter of the order of 0.010"; the tubular element being between about 1 cm to 3 cm long and having a wall thickness of the order of 0.003", the distal tip of the extension being narrowed to about 0.008" in diameter, the length of the tip extension being between about 0.5 mm to about 2 mm.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 26 words

A guidewire as defined in any of claims 1-15, 21 or 22 further comprising: the helical coil having a preferred curved tip at its distal end.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 32 words

A guidewire as defined in claim 23 further comprising the polymeric element including a proximal portion that extends over and covers a distal portion of the distal end of the core wire.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 25 words

A guidewire as defined in any of claims 1-15, 21 or 22 further comprising: the helical coil having a straight tip at its distal end.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 32 words

A guidewire as defined in claim 25 further comprising the polymeric element including a proximal portion that extends over and covers a distal portion of the distal end of the core wire.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-08-19	1995-02-18	1995-08-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-08-19	1999-02-18	1999-08-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-08-19	2003-02-18	2003-08-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Movable core guidewire

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