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US5054501A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Steerable guide wire for cannulation of tubular or vascular organs

Assignee: The Brigham and Women's Hospital Inc
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Filing: 1990-05-16
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Granted: 1991-10-08
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Expires: 2010-05-16
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Abstract

Abstract A steerable guide wire for cannulation of tubular or vascular organs. The guide wire has a distal end and a proximal end. The guide wire has at least one coil forming a helix near the distal end of the guide wire to aid in the negotiation through tubular or vascular organs such as endoscopic retrograde or antegrade cannulation of the cystic duct. A removable clamp is secured to the proximal end of the guide wire to allow the user to apply torsional and longitudinal force to steer the guide wire into position.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ram Chuttani
  • 👤 Michael D. Apstein
  • 👤 David L. Carr-Locke

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 19:02
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/09; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/22; A61B17/22031; A61B2017/22034; A61M2025/09058; A61M2025/09083; A61M2025/09175

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 48 words
A steerable guide wire comprising, a) a flexible wire shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and b) means formed by the distal end of the flexible wire shaft for navigating and advancing the guide wire by contacting the walls of a vessel in corkscrew-type fashion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 48 words
A steerable guide wire comprising, a) a flexible wire shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and b) means formed by the distal end of the flexible wire shaft for navigating and advancing the guide wire by contacting the walls of a vessel in corkscrew-type fashion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 34 words
The steerable guide wire of claim 1 wherein the length of said guide wire is between 10 cm and 10 m, and the diameter of said flexible wire shaft is between 0.2 mm-3.0 mm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
A steerable guide wire of claim 2, having means for manipulation of said guide wire secured to the guide wire near its proximal end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
The steerable guide wire of claim 3, wherein said means for manipulation of said guide wire comprises a removable clamp for communicating torque and steering forces to said clamp and to said guide wire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
The steerable guide wire of claim 2, wherein said means for navigating and advancing terminates at a soft, flexible distal tip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
The steerable guide wire of claim 1, wherein said means for navigating and advancing is a helix having at least one coil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 56 words
A steerable guide wire, comprising a flexible wire shaft having a proximal and a distal end, said shaft forming at least one coil near the distal end of said guide wire for navigating and advancing the guide wire by contacting the walls of a tortuous duct as said guide wire is rotated in a corkscrew-type fashion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 56 words
A steerable guide wire, comprising a flexible wire shaft having a proximal and a distal end, said shaft forming at least one coil near the distal end of said guide wire for navigating and advancing the guide wire by contacting the walls of a tortuous duct as said guide wire is rotated in a corkscrew-type fashion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 52 words
The steerable guide wire of claim 7, wherein said guide wire has a length of between 10 cm and 10 meters, said flexible wire shaft having a diameter of 0.20 mm to 3.0 mm and each of said at least one coils has an outer diameter of 0.50 mm to 2.5 cm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 16 words
The steerable guide wire of claim 8, wherein said guide wire has a low friction coating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 44 words
The steerable guide wire of claim 8 having means for manipulation of said guide wire comprised of a removable clamp wherein said clamp can be secured to said guide wire so that torsional force applied to said clamp is communicated to said guide wire.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 117 words
A steerable guide wire for cannulation of the gallbladder, comprising: a) a flexible wire shaft of circular cross-section having a diameter between 0.20 mm and 1.25 mm, said flexible wire shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a total length of from 50 cm to 1,000 cm; and b) at least one coil formed by the flexible wire shaft near the distal end of said guide wire for navigating and advancing the guide wire through the crescentic folds of the cystic duct by contacting the walls of said duct in a corkscrew-type fashion, said at least one coil having an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the distal end of said flexible wire shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 117 words
A steerable guide wire for cannulation of the gallbladder, comprising: a) a flexible wire shaft of circular cross-section having a diameter between 0.20 mm and 1.25 mm, said flexible wire shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a total length of from 50 cm to 1,000 cm; and b) at least one coil formed by the flexible wire shaft near the distal end of said guide wire for navigating and advancing the guide wire through the crescentic folds of the cystic duct by contacting the walls of said duct in a corkscrew-type fashion, said at least one coil having an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the distal end of said flexible wire shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 43 words
The steerable guide wire for cannulation of the gallbladder as recited in claim 11, further comprising a removable clamp secured to the guide wire near its proximal end, said removable clamp having means for communicating longitudinal and torsional forces to said guide wire.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 49 words
The steerable guide wire for cannulation of the gallbladder as recited in claim 11, wherein the flexible wire shaft has a tapered section near its distal end, wherein the circular cross-section of said wire shaft tapers to a diameter between 0.10 mm and 1.25 mm at the distal end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 49 words
The steerable guide wire for cannulation of the gallbladder as recited in claim 11 wherein said at least one coil forms a helix near the distal end of the flexible wire shaft, said helix terminating with a soft, flexible distal tip located on the distal side of said helix.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 24 words
The steerable guide wire for cannulation of the gallbladder as recited in claim 11 wherein said flexible wire shaft has a low friction surface.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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US4538622A Cited
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US4867173A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-10-07 1995-04-08 1995-10-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-10-07 1999-04-08 1999-10-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-10-07 2003-04-08 2003-10-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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