US5238004A — High elongation linear elastic guidewire

Claim 1

Independent Claim 72 words

A guidewire device having a distal portion comprised of a precursor of a superelastic alloy, said precursor portion exhibiting no phase transition in response to deforming stress and having a linear stress-strain curve extending to a yield point without passing through a substantial plateau in which stress remains substantially constant while strain is varied, the distal precursor portion of said guidewire being deformable beyond said yield point to a desired set shape.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 72 words

A guidewire device having a distal portion comprised of a precursor of a superelastic alloy, said precursor portion exhibiting no phase transition in response to deforming stress and having a linear stress-strain curve extending to a yield point without passing through a substantial plateau in which stress remains substantially constant while strain is varied, the distal precursor portion of said guidewire being deformable beyond said yield point to a desired set shape.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 41 words

The guidewire device of claim 1 wherein said precursor is selected from the group consisting of an alloy of In--Tl, Fe--Mn, Ni--Ti, Ag--Cd, Au--Cd, Au--Cu, Cu--Al--Ni, Cu--Au--Zn, Cu--Zn, Cu--Zn--Al, Cu--Zn--Sn, Cu--Zn--Xe, Fe 3 Be, Fe 3 Pt, Ni--Ti--V, Fe--Ni--Ti--Co, and Cu--Sn.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

The guidewire of claim 2 wherein said alloy is selected from the group consisting of Ni--Ti, Cu--Al--Ni and Cu--Zn--Al.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 15 words

The guidewire of claim 1 wherein said precursor is an alloy of about 55%/45% Ni--Ti.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 37 words

The guidewire device of claim 1 in which at least part of said distal portion is smaller than an integral portion of said guidewire proximal thereof, which is also comprised of said precursor of a superelastic alloy.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 41 words

The guidewire device of claim 5 in which at least part of the guidewire formed of said precursor of a superelastic alloy is tapered from a larger to a smaller size in the direction of the distal end of said guidewire.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 72 words

The guidewire of claim 5 in the form of an angiographic guidewire having a total length of about 145 cm, a body portion of about 0.020 to 0.290 inch diameter, a taper portion about 7 to 10 cm long and a tip portion about 2 to 10 cm long with a diameter of about 0.007 inch, said body portion, taper portion and tip portion comprised of said precursor of a superelastic alloy.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 72 words

The guidewire of claim 5 in the form of a gastrointestinal guidewire having a total length of about 450 cm, a body portion of about 0.020 to 0.290 inch diameter, a taper portion about 7 to 10 cm long and a tip portion about 2 to 10 cm long with a diameter of about 0.007 inch, said body portion, taper portion and tip portion comprised of said precursor of a superelastic alloy.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 34 words

The guidewire of claim 6 wherein there is a portion of said guidewire distal to said taper, said portion having diameter no greater than the diameter of the most distal portion of said taper.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

The guidewire of claim 6 wherein the distal portion of said guidewire continuously tapers distally to the smallest diameter at the distal end of the guidewire.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

The guidewire device of claim 1 having a core element comprised of said precursor, said core element extending proximally, integrally from said distal portion.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 11 words

The guidewire of claim 1 further comprising a polymeric external coating.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 10 words

The guidewire of claim 12 wherein said coating is polytetrafluoroethylene.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 12 words

The guidewire of claim 12 wherein said coating is a lubricious polymer.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 14 words

The guidewire of claim 12 or 14 wherein said coating includes an antithrombogenic agent.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 10 words

The guidewire of claim 14 wherein said agent is heparin.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

The guidewire of claim 1 wherein said distal portion comprises an element comprised of said precursor of a superelastic alloy and further including a flexible spring coil surrounding said element.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 15 words

The guidewire of claim 17 wherein said spring coil is more flexible than said element.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 154 words

A guidewire device having a distal portion comprised of a precursor of a superelastic alloy, selected from the group consisting of an alloy of In--Tl, Fe--Mn, Ni--Ti, Ag--Cd, Au--Cd, Au--Cu, Cu--Al--Ni, Cu--Au--Zn, Cu--Zn, Cu--Zn--Al, Cu--Zn--Sn, Cu--Zn--Xe, Fe 3 Be, Fe 3 Pt, Ni--Ti--V, Fe--Ni--Ti--Co, and Cu--Sn, said precursor portion exhibiting no phase transition in response to deforming stress and having a linear stress-strain curve extending to a yield point without passing through a substantial plateau in which stress remains substantially constant while strain is varied, the distal precursor portion of said guidewire being deformable beyond said yield point to a desired set shape, where at least part of the guidewire formed of said precursor of a superelastic alloy is tapered from a larger to a smaller size in the direction of the distal end of said guidewire where the tip of said guidewire is no larger than the most distal portion of said taper.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 154 words

A guidewire device having a distal portion comprised of a precursor of a superelastic alloy, selected from the group consisting of an alloy of In--Tl, Fe--Mn, Ni--Ti, Ag--Cd, Au--Cd, Au--Cu, Cu--Al--Ni, Cu--Au--Zn, Cu--Zn, Cu--Zn--Al, Cu--Zn--Sn, Cu--Zn--Xe, Fe 3 Be, Fe 3 Pt, Ni--Ti--V, Fe--Ni--Ti--Co, and Cu--Sn, said precursor portion exhibiting no phase transition in response to deforming stress and having a linear stress-strain curve extending to a yield point without passing through a substantial plateau in which stress remains substantially constant while strain is varied, the distal precursor portion of said guidewire being deformable beyond said yield point to a desired set shape, where at least part of the guidewire formed of said precursor of a superelastic alloy is tapered from a larger to a smaller size in the direction of the distal end of said guidewire where the tip of said guidewire is no larger than the most distal portion of said taper.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 34 words

The guidewire of claim 19 wherein there is a portion of said guidewire distal to said taper, said portion having diameter no greater than the diameter of the most distal portion of said taper.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 26 words

The guidewire of claim 19 wherein the distal portion of said guidewire continuously tapers distally to the smallest diameter at the distal end of the guidewire.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 20 words

The guidewire of any one of claims 19 or 21 wherein said precursor is an alloy of about 55%45% Ni--Ti.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 68 words

A guidewire device having a distal portion comprised of a Ni--Ti alloy, said portion exhibiting no phase transition in response to deforming stress and having a substantially linear stress-strain curve extending to a yield point without passing through a substantial plateau in which stress remains substantially constant while strain is varied, the distal portion of said guidewire being deformable beyond said yield point to a desired set shape.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 68 words

A guidewire device having a distal portion comprised of a Ni--Ti alloy, said portion exhibiting no phase transition in response to deforming stress and having a substantially linear stress-strain curve extending to a yield point without passing through a substantial plateau in which stress remains substantially constant while strain is varied, the distal portion of said guidewire being deformable beyond said yield point to a desired set shape.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 12 words

The guidewire of claim 23 wherein said alloy is about 55%/45% Ni--Ti.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 72 words

A guidewire device having a distal portion comprised of a Ni--Ti alloy in the martensite phase, said portion exhibiting no phase transition in response to deforming stress and having a substantially linear stress-strain curve extending to a yield point without passing through a substantial plateau in which stress remains substantially constant while strain is varied, the distal portion of said guidewire being deformable beyond said yield point to a desired set shape.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 72 words

A guidewire device having a distal portion comprised of a Ni--Ti alloy in the martensite phase, said portion exhibiting no phase transition in response to deforming stress and having a substantially linear stress-strain curve extending to a yield point without passing through a substantial plateau in which stress remains substantially constant while strain is varied, the distal portion of said guidewire being deformable beyond said yield point to a desired set shape.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 26 words

The guidewire device of claim 25 in which at least part of said distal portion is smaller than an integral portion of said guidewire proximal thereof.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 14 words

The guidewire of claim 25 or 26 wherein said alloy is about 55%/45% Ni--Ti.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-08-23	1997-02-22	1997-08-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-08-23	2001-02-22	2001-08-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-08-23	2005-02-22	2005-08-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

High elongation linear elastic guidewire

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