US5213111A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Composite wire guide construction
Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1991-07-10
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Granted: 1993-05-25
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Expires: 2011-07-10
Abstract
Abstract A wire guide construction for medical procedures that involve accessing specific inner body areas without major surgery. The wire guide comprises a mandrel which is a coaxial composite of a thin stainless steel wire radially surrounded by a shape memory alloy, such as a nickel titanium alloy. The mandrel is of a constant diameter over the majority of its length except it is tapered at its distal end to reveal the inner stainless steel wire. A flexible coil of platinum is attached near the distal end of the mandrel and is secured in place when a smoothly rounded tip is welded to the distal tip of the mandrel. The complete wire guide can be coated with a polymer layer, and 70 to 80% of the distal portion of the wire guide can be coated with a hydrophilic polymer to increase lubricity.
Inventors
- 👤 William A. Cook
- 👤 Scott E. Eells
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/09; A61M2025/09058; A61M2025/09083; A61M2025/09091; A61M2025/09133; A61M2025/09141; A61M2025/09175
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
40 words
A composite mandrel for a wire guide comprising: a strand of readily weldable material radially surrounded by and fused with a shape memory material; and wherein at least half of the mandrel is made up of said shape memory material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
A composite mandrel for a wire guide comprising: a strand of readily weldable material radially surrounded by and fused with a shape memory material; and wherein at least half of the mandrel is made up of said shape memory material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The composite mandrel of claim 1 wherein, said strand and said shape memory material are concentric.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The composite mandrel of claim 2 wherein, said shape memory material is a nickel titanium alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The composite mandrel of claim 3 wherein, said readily weldable material is stainless steel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The composite mandrel of claim 3 wherein, said readily weldable material is also radiopaque.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
A composite mandrel for a wire guide comprising: a strand of readily weldable material radially surrounded by and fused with a shape memory material; wherein said strand and said shape memory material are concentric; wherein said shape memory material is a nickel titanium alloy; wherein said readily weldable material is also radiopaque; and wherein said readily weldable material includes significant amounts of gold or platinum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A composite mandrel for a wire guide comprising: a strand of readily weldable material radially surrounded by and fused with a shape memory material; wherein said strand and said shape memory material are concentric; wherein said shape memory material is a nickel titanium alloy; wherein said readily weldable material is also radiopaque; and wherein said readily weldable material includes significant amounts of gold or platinum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
A wire guide comprising: a solid mandrel that is a composite of a shape memory material and a readily weldable material, said mandrel having a distal end, a proximal end and defining an axis extending between said ends; a flexible coil coaxially surrounding a portion of said distal end of said mandrel about said axis; and a smoothly rounded tip welded to said distal end of said mandrel distally of said flexible coil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
A wire guide comprising: a solid mandrel that is a composite of a shape memory material and a readily weldable material, said mandrel having a distal end, a proximal end and defining an axis extending between said ends; a flexible coil coaxially surrounding a portion of said distal end of said mandrel about said axis; and a smoothly rounded tip welded to said distal end of said mandrel distally of said flexible coil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The wire guide of claim 7 wherein, said shape memory material radially surrounds said readily weldable material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wire guide of claim 8 wherein, said shape memory material is coaxial with said readily weldable material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wire guide of claim 9 wherein, said shape memory material is a nickel titanium alloy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The wire guide of claim 10 wherein, said readily weldable material is stainless steel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wire guide of claim 11 wherein, said flexible coil is formed of a radiopaque material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The wire guide of claim 12 wherein, said radiopaque material is platinum.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wire guide of claim 10 wherein, said readily weldable material is also a radiopaque material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
The wire guide of claim 9 wherein, said mandrel includes a first substantially uniform diameter section, a first tapered section adjoining said first uniform diameter section and a second substantially uniform diameter section adjoining said first tapered section, and said second uniform diameter section consists only of said readily weldable material, said flexible coil radially surrounds said second uniform diameter section and radially surrounds a portion of said first tapered section.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
82 words
The wire guide of claim 9 wherein, said mandrel includes serially attached to one another a first substantially uniform diameter section, a first tapered section, a second substantially uniform diameter section, a second tapered section and a third substantially uniform diameter section distal of said second uniform diameter section, and said third uniform diameter section consists only of said readily weldable material, said flexible coil radially surrounds said second uniform diameter section and radially surrounds a portion of said first tapered section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The wire guide of claim 9 wherein, said mandrel includes a first substantially uniform diameter section separated from a first tapered portion by a radial step portion and a second substantially uniform diameter section adjoining said first tapered section; and said flexible coil abuts against said radial step portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
92 words
The wire guide of claim 9 wherein, said mandrel includes serially attached to one another a first substantially uniform diameter section, a first tapered section, a second substantially uniform diameter section, a second tapered section and a third uniform diameter section, and said third uniform diameter section consists only of said readily weldable material, said flexible coil radially surrounds said third uniform diameter section; and said flexible coil has an inner diameter approximately equal to said second uniform diameter section, and said second uniform diameter section is received within said flexible coil.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
96 words
A wire guide comprising: a mandrel that is a composite of a shape memory material and a readily weldable material, said mandrel having a distal end, a proximal end and defining an axis extending between said ends; a flexible coil coaxially surrounding a portion of said distal end of said mandrel about said axis; a smoothly rounded tip welded to said distal end of said mandrel distally of said flexible coil; a first polymer coating over the entire length of the wire guide; and a second hydrophilic coating over a portion of said first polymer coating.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
96 words
A wire guide comprising: a mandrel that is a composite of a shape memory material and a readily weldable material, said mandrel having a distal end, a proximal end and defining an axis extending between said ends; a flexible coil coaxially surrounding a portion of said distal end of said mandrel about said axis; a smoothly rounded tip welded to said distal end of said mandrel distally of said flexible coil; a first polymer coating over the entire length of the wire guide; and a second hydrophilic coating over a portion of said first polymer coating.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The wire guide of claim 19 wherein, the wire guide has a distal half and said hydrophilic coating covers at least said distal half.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
128 words
A wire guide comprising: a mandrel that is a composite of a shape memory material and a readily weldable material, said mandrel having a distal end, a proximal end and defining an axis extending between said ends; a flexible coil coaxially surrounding a portion of said distal end of said mandrel about said axis; a smoothly rounded tip welded to said distal end of said mandrel distally of said flexible coil; wherein said shape memory material radially surrounds said readily weldable material; wherein said shape memory material is coaxial with said readily weldable material; wherein said shape memory material is a nickel titanium alloy; wherein said readily weldable material is also a radiopaque material; and wherein said readily weldable material contains a significant amount of gold or platinum.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
128 words
A wire guide comprising: a mandrel that is a composite of a shape memory material and a readily weldable material, said mandrel having a distal end, a proximal end and defining an axis extending between said ends; a flexible coil coaxially surrounding a portion of said distal end of said mandrel about said axis; a smoothly rounded tip welded to said distal end of said mandrel distally of said flexible coil; wherein said shape memory material radially surrounds said readily weldable material; wherein said shape memory material is coaxial with said readily weldable material; wherein said shape memory material is a nickel titanium alloy; wherein said readily weldable material is also a radiopaque material; and wherein said readily weldable material contains a significant amount of gold or platinum.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
81 words
A wire guide comprising: a mandrel that is a composite of a shape memory material and a readily weldable material, said mandrel having a distal end and a proximal end, said mandrel having a substantially constant diameter portion over a majority of its length but tapered down to a smaller diameter portion at said distal end; a first polymer layer over the entire length of the wire guide, and a second hydrophilic coating over a portion of said first polymer layer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
81 words
A wire guide comprising: a mandrel that is a composite of a shape memory material and a readily weldable material, said mandrel having a distal end and a proximal end, said mandrel having a substantially constant diameter portion over a majority of its length but tapered down to a smaller diameter portion at said distal end; a first polymer layer over the entire length of the wire guide, and a second hydrophilic coating over a portion of said first polymer layer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The wire guide of claim 22 wherein, said first polymer layer is sufficiently thick at said distal end to build up said smaller diameter portion to substantial equality with said constant diameter portion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The wire guide of claim 23 wherein, said shape memory material radially surrounds said readily weldable material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wire guide of claim 24 wherein, said shape memory material is coaxial with said readily weldable material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wire guide of claim 25 wherein, said shape memory material is a nickel titanium alloy.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The wire guide of claim 26 wherein, said readily weldable material is stainless steel.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wire guide of claim 27 wherein, said flexible coil is formed of a radiopaque material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
The wire guide of claim 28 wherein, said radiopaque material is platinum.
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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) | 1996-05-24 | 1996-11-23 | 1997-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-24 | 2000-11-23 | 2001-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-24 | 2004-11-23 | 2005-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |