# US 10,500,372 B2 · Guidewire > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,372 B2 - Document ID: US10500372B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/045,441 - Filed: 2018-07-25 - Published: 2019-02-07 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-02 - Applicants: Farshad Malekmehr - Inventors: Farshad Malekmehr - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500372B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/0147: {with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires} - A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61M 25/09: Guide wires - A61M 25/09016: {with mandrils} - A61B 1/0055: {Constructional details of insertion parts, e.g. vertebral elements} - A61B 1/0057: {Constructional details of force transmission elements, e.g. control wires} - A61B 2017/00305: {Constructional details of the flexible means} - A61B 2017/22047: {Means for immobilising the guide wire in the patient} - A61M 2025/09116: {Design of handles or shafts or gripping surfaces thereof for manipulating guide wires} - A61M 2025/0915: {having features for changing the stiffness} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A guidewire including a thin elongated structure and an outer shell around at least a portion of the thin elongated structure. The outer shell includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the second portion of the outer shell are each coupled to the thin elongated structure. The first portion is spaced from the second portion by a gap. The guidewire is configured to move between a flexible state and a rigid state. The gap has a first distance when the guidewire is in the flexible state and the gap has a second distance greater than the first distance when the guidewire is in the rigid state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A guidewire comprising: a thin elongated structure; and an outer shell around at least a portion of the thin elongated structure, the outer shell comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion each being coupled to the thin elongated structure, wherein the first portion is spaced from the second portion by a gap, wherein the guidewire is configured to move between a flexible state and a rigid state, wherein the gap has a non-zero first distance when the guidewire is in the flexible state, and wherein the gap has a second distance greater than the first distance when the guidewire is in the rigid state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the second distance is at least approximately 1 cm. ### Claim 3 A guidewire comprising: a thin elongated structure; an outer shell around at least a portion of the thin elongated structure, the outer shell comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion each being coupled to the thin elongated structure; and an outer stop coupled to the thin elongated structure, wherein the first portion is spaced from the second portion by a gap, wherein the guidewire is configured to move between a flexible state and a rigid state, wherein the gap has a first distance when the guidewire is in the flexible state, wherein the gap has a second distance greater than the first distance when the guidewire is in the rigid state, and wherein the outer stop is configured to maintain the first distance of the gap between the first portion and the second portion of the outer shell and prevent the first portion from contacting the second portion of the outer shell when the guidewire is in the flexible state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The guidewire of claim 3, further comprising an inner stop coupled to the first portion of the outer shell, wherein the inner stop is configured to engage the outer stop when the guidewire is in the flexible state to maintain the first distance of the gap between the first portion and the second portion of the outer shell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The guidewire of claim 3, wherein the outer stop extends into the gap between the first portion and the second portion of the outer shell, and wherein the outer stop is configured to engage a proximal end of the first portion of the outer shell when the guidewire is in the flexible state to maintain the first distance of the gap between the first portion and the second portion of the outer shell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the outer shell comprises a spring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The guidewire of claim 1, wherein the thin elongated structure comprises a wire or a cable. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The guidewire of claim 1, wherein a tip portion of the first portion of the outer shell is welded to a tip portion of the thin elongated structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The guidewire of claim 4, wherein the inner stop is between the outer stop and a distal end of the first portion of the outer shell. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The guidewire of claim 5, further comprising an inwardly extending flange at the proximal end of the first portion of the outer shell, and wherein the outer stop is configured to engage the inwardly extending flange when the guidewire is in the flexible state. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The guidewire of claim 10, wherein an outer surface of the outer stop is recessed below an outer surface of the first portion of the outer shell.