Composite guidewire

Claim 2

A composite guidewire including: a core of super elastic material, the core having a distal portion and a proximal portion; a coupling tube extending over the proximal portion of the core, the tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the coupling tube being adapted to engage the core at various locations so as to prevent rotational and axial movement of the coupling tube with respect to the core; a safety wire of a non-super elastic material overlying the core, the safety wire having a distal end that extends to the distal end of the core and a proximal end that extends beyond the distal end of the coupling tube to an attachment location adjacent to a distal end of the coupling tube; a coil engaged over the distal portion of the core, the coil having a distal end that attaches to the safety wire and a proximal end that engages a distal end of the coupling tube, the coil overlying the safety wire; and a tip attached to the distal end of said coil and the distal end of said safety wire.

Claim 3

The composite guidewire of claim 1 further including a core extension of non-super elastic material, the core extension having a distal end that is adjacent a proximal end of the core, and the safety wire attaches at a proximal end to a distal portion of the core extension.

Claim 4

The composite guidewire of claim 2 wherein the core and the core extension include longitudinal flats for receiving the safety wire.

Claim 5

The composite guidewire of claim 3 wherein the space between the coupling tube and the core and core extension is filled with epoxy resin.

Claim 6

The composite guidewire of claim 4 wherein the coupling tube is made of super elastic material.

Claim 7

The composite guidewire of claim 4 wherein a distal end segment of the core is tapered.

Claim 8

The composite guidewire of claim 4 wherein the coil and safety wire extend beyond the distal portion of the core.

Claim 9

The composite guidewire of claim 4 wherein the coil is radiopaque.

Claim 10

The composite guidewire of claim 4 wherein the coil is non-radiopaque, and the guidewire further includes a radiopaque coil engaged over the non-radiopaque coil.

Claim 11

The composite guidewire of claim 4 wherein the coil is non-radiopaque, and the guidewire further includes a radiopaque cover engaged over the tip and the distal end of the coil.

Claim 12

The composite guidewire of claim 1 wherein a distal end segment of the core is tapered.

Claim 13

The composite guidewire of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the core extends beyond the proximal end of the coupling tube and is shaped as a stop for the coupling tube.

Claim 14

The composite guidewire of claim 1 further including a core extension of a non-super elastic material, the core extension having a distal end portion fixedly mated with said proximal end portion of the core, and wherein the proximal end portion of the core is fixedly mated with the distal end portion of the core extension.

Claim 15

The composite guidewire of claim 13 wherein the distal end portion of the extension and the proximal end portion of the core have interfitting parts.

Claim 16

The composite guidewire of claim 4 wherein the proximal end portion of the core includes a tab, and the distal end portion of the extension includes a recess for receiving the tab, or vice versa.

Claim 17

The composite guidewire of claim 1 further comprising a radiopaque cushioning cover attached to the distal end of the coil.

Claim 18

The composite guidewire of claim 16 wherein a distal end of the core is tapered.

Claim 19

The composite guidewire of claim 16 wherein the coil and the wire extend beyond a distal end of the core.

Claim 20

The composite guidewire of claim 16 wherein the cushioning cover includes a plastic cushioning tip.

Claim 21

A composite guidewire including: a core that includes a first section of super elastic material and a second section of a non-super elastic material; a super elastic tube section extending over a distal segment of the second section and a proximal segment of the first section, the tube being attached to a proximal section of the first section of the core and the tube being adapted to engage the core at various locations so as to prevent rotational and axial movement of the tube section with respect to the core; a wire of a non-super elastic material overlying the core and being attached to the distal end of the second section of the core and extending to a distal end of the first section of the core the wire extending beyond a distal end of the tube section; a coil engaged over the distal segment of the first core section, the coil having a distal end attached to a distal end of the wire and a proximal end that engages a distal end of the tube section, the coil overlying the wire; and a tip attached to the distal end of the coil and the distal end of the wire.

Claim 22

A composite guidewire including: a core that includes a first section of super elastic material and a second section of a non-super elastic material; a super elastic tube section extending over a distal segment of the second section and a proximal segment of the first section, the tube being attached to a proximal section of the first section of the core and the tube being adapted to engage the core at various locations so as to prevent rotational and axial movement of the tube section with respect to the core; a wire of a non-super elastic material overlying the core and being attached to the distal end of the second section of the core and extending to a distal end of the first section of the core the wire extending beyond a distal end of the tube section; a coil engaged over the distal segment of the first core section, the coil having a distal end attached to a distal end of the wire and a proximal end that engages a distal end of the tube section, the coil overlying the wire; and a tip attached to the distal end of the coil and the distal end of the wire.

Claim 23

The composite guidewire of claim 20 further comprising a core extension, and wherein the core and the core extension each include longitudinal flats for receiving the safety wire.

Claim 24

The composite guidewire of claim 20 wherein the first section of the core is shaped at a proximal end to mate with the distal end of the second section of the core, and the distal end of the second section of the core is shaped to mate with the proximal end of the first section of the core.

Claim 25

The composite guidewire of claim 22 wherein the distal end of the second section of the core tapers to approximately one-half of the diameter of the core and includes a protruding tab, and the proximal end of the first section of the core tapers to approximately one-half of the diameter of the core and includes a recess for receiving the tab.

Claim 26

The composite guidewire of claim 23 wherein the proximal end of the first section of the core includes a second tab, and the distal end of the second section of the core includes a second recess for receiving the second tab.

Claim 27

A composite guidewire including: a core that includes a first section of super elastic material and a second section of a non-super elastic material; a super elastic tube section extending over a distal segment of the second section and a proximal segment of the first section, the tube being attached to a proximal section of the first section of the core and the tube being adapted to engage the core at various locations so as to prevent rotational and axial movement of the tube section with respect to the core; a wire of a non-super elastic material overlying the core and being attached to the distal end of the second section of the core and extending to a distal end of the first section of the core the wire extending beyond a distal end of the tube section; a coil engaged over the distal segment of the first core section, the coil having a distal end attached to a distal end of the wire and a proximal end that engages a distal end of the tube section, the coil overlying the wire; and a tip attached to the distal end of the coil and the distal end of the wire.

Claim 28

A composite guidewire including: a core that includes a first section of super elastic material and a second section of a non-super elastic material; a super elastic tube section extending over a distal segment of the second section and a proximal segment of the first section, the tube being attached to a proximal section of the first section of the core and the tube being adapted to engage the core at various locations so as to prevent rotational and axial movement of the tube section with respect to the core; a wire of a non-super elastic material overlying the core and being attached to the distal end of the second section of the core and extending to a distal end of the first section of the core the wire extending beyond a distal end of the tube section; a coil engaged over the distal segment of the first core section, the coil having a distal end attached to a distal end of the wire and a proximal end that engages a distal end of the tube section, the coil overlying the wire; and a tip attached to the distal end of the coil and the distal end of the wire.

Claim 29

The composite guidewire of claim 25 wherein the space between the coupling tube and the core extension if filled with epoxy resin.

Claim 30

The composite guidewire of claim 26 wherein the coil is radiopaque.

Claim 31

The composite guidewire of claim 26 wherein the coil is non-radiopaque, and the guidewire further includes a radiopaque coil engaged over the non-radiopaque coil.

Claim 32

The composite guidewire of claim 26 wherein the coil is non-radiopaque, and the guidewire further includes a radiopaque plastic cover engaged over the tip and the distal end of the coil.