Catheter advancing guidewire and method for making same

Claim 2

A flexible guidewire for use in placing a catheter within a patient, said guidewire comprising: an elongated flexible unitary body defining a longitudinally extending tip support section, said tip support section having a plurality of axially spaced apart transverse grooves defined in an outer surface thereof for enhancing flexibility while resisting buckling to thereby facilitate placing the guidewire within a patient, said tip support section having a plurality of axially spaced apart longitudinally extending cylindrical outer surface portions between adjacent transverse grooves of constant and uniform circular cross-section and collectively defining an imaginary circular cylinder of constant and uniform diameter, each of said transverse grooves having a pair of opposing outer edges, adjacent respective cylindrical outer surface portions, being rounded over to thereby facilitate positioning of said tip support section within a catheter; and a distal tip section connected to said tip support section.

Claim 3

A guidewire according to claim 1 wherein said tip support section further comprises a tapered diameter portion extending longitudinally between said plurality of spaced apart grooves and said distal tip section.

Claim 4

A guidewire according to claim 1 wherein said guidewire further comprises a longitudinally extending main section connected to said tip support section opposite said distal tip section, wherein said main section has a circular cross-sectional shape of predetermined diameter, and wherein the imaginary cylinder defined by outer surface portions of said tip support section has a diameter equal to the predetermined diameter of said main section.

Claim 5

A guidewire according to claim 1 wherein said series of axially spaced apart transverse grooves are equally axially spaced apart transverse grooves which extend circumferentially around the outer surface of said tip support section.

Claim 6

A guidewire according to claim 4 wherein each axially spaced apart transverse groove has a width such that a ratio of the width to the axial spacing between adjacent grooves is in a range of about 0.1 to 10.

Claim 7

A guidewire according to claim 1 wherein each of said spaced apart transverse grooves has a V-shaped cross-section.

Claim 8

A guidewire according to claim 1 wherein each of said spaced apart transverse grooves has a U-shaped cross-section.

Claim 9

A guidewire according to claim 1 wherein said tip support section has a length in a range of about 5 to 15 inches.

Claim 10

A guidewire according to claim 1 wherein said elongate flexible unitary body is a metal wire; and wherein said distal tip section comprises a flattened portion of said metal wire and a wound coil surrounding said flattened portion so that said distal tip section is bendable and shape-retaining.

Claim 11

A flexible guidewire for use in placing a catheter within a patient, said guidewire comprising: an elongate flexible body defining a longitudinally extending tip support section; and a distal tip section connected to said tip support section; said tip support section having a plurality of axially spaced apart transverse grooves defined in an outer surface thereof along a first length and a tapered diameter along a second length between said plurality of spaced apart grooves and said distal tip section for enhancing flexibility while resisting buckling to thereby facilitate placing the guidewire within a patient, said tip support section having a plurality of axially spaced apart longitudinally extending cylindrical outer surface portions between adjacent transverse grooves of constant and uniform circular cross-section and collectively defining an imaginary circular cylinder of constant and uniform diameter, each of said transverse grooves having a pair of opposing outer edges, adjacent respective cylindrical outer surface portions, being rounded over to thereby facilitate positioning of said tip support section within a catheter.

Claim 12

A flexible guidewire for use in placing a catheter within a patient, said guidewire comprising: an elongate flexible body defining a longitudinally extending tip support section; and a distal tip section connected to said tip support section; said tip support section having a plurality of axially spaced apart transverse grooves defined in an outer surface thereof along a first length and a tapered diameter along a second length between said plurality of spaced apart grooves and said distal tip section for enhancing flexibility while resisting buckling to thereby facilitate placing the guidewire within a patient, said tip support section having a plurality of axially spaced apart longitudinally extending cylindrical outer surface portions between adjacent transverse grooves of constant and uniform circular cross-section and collectively defining an imaginary circular cylinder of constant and uniform diameter, each of said transverse grooves having a pair of opposing outer edges, adjacent respective cylindrical outer surface portions, being rounded over to thereby facilitate positioning of said tip support section within a catheter.

Claim 13

A guidewire according to claim 10 wherein elongate flexible body is a unitary body of material.

Claim 14

A guidewire according to claim 10 wherein said guidewire further comprises a longitudinally extending main section connected to said tip support section opposite said distal tip section, wherein said main section has a circular cross-sectional shape of predetermined diameter, and wherein the imaginary cylinder defined by outer surface portions of said tip support section has a diameter equal to the predetermined diameter of said main section.

Claim 15

A guidewire according to claim 10 wherein said series of axially spaced apart transverse grooves are equally axially spaced apart transverse grooves which extend circumferentially around the outer surface of said tip support section.

Claim 16

A guidewire according to claim 10 wherein said tip support section has a length in a range of about 5 to 15 inches.

Claim 17

A guidewire according to claim 10 wherein said elongate unitary body is a metal wire; and wherein said distal tip section comprises a flattened portion of said metal wire and a wound coil surrounding said flattened portion so that said distal tip section is bendable and shape-retaining.

Claim 18

A combination of a catheter and a flexible guidewire positioned within the catheter for placing the catheter within a patient, said guidewire comprising: an elongate flexible unitary body defining a longitudinally extending tip support section, said tip support section having a plurality of axially spaced apart transverse grooves defined in an outer surface thereof for enhancing flexibility while resisting buckling to thereby facilitate placing the catheter within a patient, said tip support section having a plurality of axially spaced apart longitudinally extending cylindrical outer surface portions between adjacent transverse grooves of constant and uniform circular cross-section and collectively defining an imaginary circular cylinder of constant and uniform diameter, each of said transverse grooves having a pair of opposing outer edges, adjacent respective cylindrical outer surface portions, being rounded over to thereby facilitate positioning of said tip support section within a catheter; and a distal tip section connected to said tip support section.

Claim 19

A combination of a catheter and a flexible guidewire positioned within the catheter for placing the catheter within a patient, said guidewire comprising: an elongate flexible unitary body defining a longitudinally extending tip support section, said tip support section having a plurality of axially spaced apart transverse grooves defined in an outer surface thereof for enhancing flexibility while resisting buckling to thereby facilitate placing the catheter within a patient, said tip support section having a plurality of axially spaced apart longitudinally extending cylindrical outer surface portions between adjacent transverse grooves of constant and uniform circular cross-section and collectively defining an imaginary circular cylinder of constant and uniform diameter, each of said transverse grooves having a pair of opposing outer edges, adjacent respective cylindrical outer surface portions, being rounded over to thereby facilitate positioning of said tip support section within a catheter; and a distal tip section connected to said tip support section.

Claim 20

A guidewire according to claim 16 wherein said tip support section further comprises a tapered diameter portion extending longitudinally between said plurality of spaced apart grooves and said distal tip section.

Claim 21

A guidewire according to claim 16 wherein said guidewire further comprises a longitudinally extending main section connected to said tip support section opposite said distal tip section, wherein said main section has a circular cross-sectional shape of predetermined diameter, and wherein the imaginary cylinder defined by outer surface portions of said tip support section has a diameter equal to the predetermined diameter of said main section.

Claim 22

A guidewire according to claim 16 wherein said series of axially spaced apart transverse grooves are equally axially spaced apart transverse grooves which extend circumferentially around the outer surface of said tip support section.

Claim 23

A guidewire according to claim 16 wherein said tip support section has a length in a range of about 5 to 15 inches.

Claim 24

A guidewire according to claim 16 wherein said elongate flexible unitary body is a metal wire; and wherein said distal tip section comprises a flattened portion of said metal wire and a wound coil surrounding said flattened portion so that said distal tip section is bendable and shape-retaining.

Claim 25

A flexible guidewire for use in placing a catheter within a patient, said guidewire comprising: an elongate flexible unitary body defining a longitudinally extending tip support section, said tip support section having a plurality of axially spaced apart transverse grooves defined in an outer surface thereof for enhancing flexibility while resisting buckling to thereby facilitate placing the guidewire within a patient, said tip support section having a plurality of axially spaced apart longitudinally extending cylindrical outer surface portions between adjacent transverse grooves of constant and uniform circular cross-section and collectively defining an imaginary circular cylinder of constant and uniform diameter, each of said transverse grooves having a pair of opposing outer edges, adjacent respective cylindrical outer surface portions, being rounded over to thereby facilitate positioning of said tip support section within a catheter.

Claim 26

A flexible guidewire for use in placing a catheter within a patient, said guidewire comprising: an elongate flexible unitary body defining a longitudinally extending tip support section, said tip support section having a plurality of axially spaced apart transverse grooves defined in an outer surface thereof for enhancing flexibility while resisting buckling to thereby facilitate placing the guidewire within a patient, said tip support section having a plurality of axially spaced apart longitudinally extending cylindrical outer surface portions between adjacent transverse grooves of constant and uniform circular cross-section and collectively defining an imaginary circular cylinder of constant and uniform diameter, each of said transverse grooves having a pair of opposing outer edges, adjacent respective cylindrical outer surface portions, being rounded over to thereby facilitate positioning of said tip support section within a catheter.

Claim 27

A guidewire according to claim 22 further comprising a distal tip section connected to said tip support section, and wherein said tip support section further comprises a tapered diameter portion extending longitudinally between said plurality of spaced apart grooves and said distal tip section.

Claim 28

A flexible guidewire for use in placing a catheter within a patient, said guidewire comprising: an elongate flexible body defining a longitudinally extending tip support section, said tip support section comprising groove means defined in an outer surface thereof for enhancing flexibility while resisting buckling to thereby facilitate placing the guidewire within a patient, said groove means comprising a plurality of axially spaced apart transverse grooves defined in an outer surface of said tip support section, said tip support section having a plurality of axially spaced apart longitudinally extending cylindrical outer surfaces portions between adjacent transverse grooves of constant and uniform circular cross-section and collectively defining an imaginary circular cylinder of constant and uniform diameter, each of said transverse grooves having a pair of opposing outer edges, adjacent respective cylindrical outer surface portions, being rounded over to thereby facilitate positioning of said tip support section within a catheter; and a distal tip section connected to said tip support section, said distal tip section comprising a portion of said elongate flexible body and a wound coil surrounding same so that said distal tip section is bendable and shape-retaining.

Claim 29

A flexible guidewire for use in placing a catheter within a patient, said guidewire comprising: an elongate flexible body defining a longitudinally extending tip support section, said tip support section comprising groove means defined in an outer surface thereof for enhancing flexibility while resisting buckling to thereby facilitate placing the guidewire within a patient, said groove means comprising a plurality of axially spaced apart transverse grooves defined in an outer surface of said tip support section, said tip support section having a plurality of axially spaced apart longitudinally extending cylindrical outer surfaces portions between adjacent transverse grooves of constant and uniform circular cross-section and collectively defining an imaginary circular cylinder of constant and uniform diameter, each of said transverse grooves having a pair of opposing outer edges, adjacent respective cylindrical outer surface portions, being rounded over to thereby facilitate positioning of said tip support section within a catheter; and a distal tip section connected to said tip support section, said distal tip section comprising a portion of said elongate flexible body and a wound coil surrounding same so that said distal tip section is bendable and shape-retaining.

Claim 30

A guidewire according to claim 24 wherein said tip support section further comprises a tapered diameter portion extending longitudinally between said plurality of spaced apart grooves and said distal tip section.

Claim 31

A guidewire according to claim 24 wherein said elongate flexible body is a metal wire; and wherein said distal tip section comprises a flattened portion of said metal wire.

Claim 34

A method according to claim 27 further comprising the step of forming a bendable shape-retaining distal tip section adjacent the tip support section.

Claim 35

A method according to claim 28 wherein the step of forming the distal tip section comprises the steps of flattening a portion of the elongate flexible unitary body and covering same with a wound coil.

Claim 36

A method according to claim 28 further comprising the step of forming a tapered diameter section along the elongate flexible unitary body between the grooved portion of the tip support section and the distal tip section.

Claim 37

A method according to claim 27 wherein the step of forming a plurality of axially spaced apart transverse grooves comprises the step of forming a plurality of axially spaced apart grooves extending circumferentially around the outer surface of the tip support section.

Claim 38

A method according to claim 31 wherein the step of forming a plurality of spaced apart grooves comprises the step of forming a plurality of axially spaced apart grooves wherein each spaced apart groove has a width such that a ratio of the width to the spacing between adjacent grooves is in a range of about 0.10 to 10.