# US 12,661,484 B2 · Guidewire with conductive element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,661,484 B2 - Document ID: US12661484B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/457,844 - Filed: 2021-12-06 - Published: 2022-06-09 - Granted: 2026-06-23 - Earliest claimed: 2020-12-07 - Assignees: Asahi Intecc Co., Ltd.; Pathways Medical Corporation - Applicants: Asahi Intecc Co., Ltd.; Pathways Medical Corporation - Inventors: Nitin Patil; Minoru Ogawa; Philip R. Houle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12661484B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/09: Guide wires - A61B 5/02158: {provided with two or more sensor elements} - A61B 5/6851: {Guide wires} - A61B 5/027: using catheters - A61B 5/287: Holders for multiple electrodes, e.g. electrode catheters for electrophysiological study [EPS] - A61M 2025/0002: {with a pressure sensor at the distal end} - A61M 2025/09075: {having a core without a coil possibly combined with a sheath} - A61M 2025/09108: {Methods for making a guide wire} - A61M 2025/09183: {having tools at the distal tip} - A61M 2205/0233: Conductive materials, e.g. antistatic coatings for spark prevention - H01R 2107/00: Four or more poles - 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) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract Multiple approaches to incorporating multiple conductors on a guidewire by building the multiple conductor traces of variable sizes and material compositions on separate insulating layers are described. The approaches described in the invention facilitate ease of assembly of sensors to the guidewire or catheter element. This approach is particularly useful in scenarios where electrical or mechanical properties of the device need to be altered in specific sections to either enhance device performance and reliability (e.g. selective abrasion resistance), or facilitate ease of assembly (e.g. soldering or connection ease), or in some instances achieve desired electrical characteristics (e.g. impedance). The desired properties are incorporated into the same device requiring an innovative approach to forming signal wires in an otherwise tight space without impacting the primary mechanical performance of the devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A guidewire comprising: a guidewire core, a first insulating layer disposed on a surface of the guidewire core, multiple first conductive traces arranged spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the guidewire core and disposed on a surface of the first insulating layer and along a length direction of the guidewire core, multiple connection sections disposed on at least one of distal and proximal end sides in a length direction of the multiple first conductive traces and electrically connected with an electronic component, and a second insulating layer that covers the multiple first conductive traces and the first insulating layer, wherein: ends of the multiple first conductive traces having the multiple connection sections are arranged in parallel to the length direction of the guidewire core, the multiple connection sections are arranged in a straight line parallel to a longitudinal axis of the guidewire core, the multiple connection sections each comprise an inner opening that is opened on the second insulating layer so as to reach a corresponding first conductive trace, a respective conductive band made of a conductive material is arranged so as to cover at least a portion of each respective inner opening of the multiple connection sections, a respective conductive connection member is disposed on each respective inner opening, each respective connection section of the multiple connection sections is electrically connected with each respective conductive band via the respective conductive connection member, each respective conductive band is made of a different conductive material than each respective conductive connection member, each respective conductive band has an outer opening penetrating the conductive band in a thickness direction and each respective outer opening is arranged so as to overlap with each respective inner opening, the respective conductive connection member for electrically connecting each respective conductive band with each respective connection section is disposed inside each respective outer opening, and each respective outer opening and each respective inner opening are arranged so as to overlap with each other while being offset from each other in the length direction of the guidewire core. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The guidewire according to claim 1, wherein an area of each respective inner opening is larger than an area of each respective outer opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The guidewire according to claim 2, wherein each respective outer opening is formed into a rectangular shape. ### Claim 4 A guidewire comprising: a guidewire core, a first insulating layer disposed on a surface of the guidewire core, multiple first conductive traces arranged spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the guidewire core and disposed on a surface of the first insulating layer and along a length direction of the guidewire core, multiple connection sections disposed on at least one of distal and proximal end sides in a length direction of the multiple first conductive traces and electrically connected with an electronic component, and a second insulating layer that covers the multiple first conductive traces and the first insulating layer, wherein: ends of the multiple first conductive traces having the multiple connection sections are arranged in parallel to the length direction of the guidewire core, the multiple connection sections are arranged in a straight line parallel to a longitudinal axis of the guidewire core, the multiple connection sections each comprise an inner opening that is opened on the second insulating layer so as to reach a corresponding first conductive trace, a respective conductive band made of a conductive material is arranged so as to cover at least a portion of each respective inner opening of the multiple connection sections, a respective conductive connection member is disposed on each respective inner opening, each respective connection section of the multiple connection sections is electrically connected with each respective conductive band via the respective conductive connection member, each respective conductive band is made of a different conductive material than each respective conductive connection member, each respective conductive band has an outer opening penetrating the conductive band in a thickness direction and each respective outer opening is arranged so as to overlap with each respective inner opening, the respective conductive connection member for electrically connecting each respective conductive band with each respective connection section is disposed inside each respective outer opening, and each respective outer opening is formed into an inverse tapered shape that gradually widens from a position opened on one of both ends in a width direction of each respective conductive band toward a side located at a position deviating in the width direction of the respective conductive band. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The guidewire according to claim 3, wherein each respective outer opening is formed on both end sides in a width direction of the respective conductive band. ### Claim 6 A guidewire comprising: a guidewire core, a first insulating layer disposed on a surface of the guidewire core, multiple first conductive traces arranged spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the guidewire core and disposed on a surface of the first insulating layer and along a length direction of the guidewire core, multiple connection sections disposed on at least one of distal and proximal end sides in a length direction of the multiple first conductive traces and electrically connected with an electronic component, and a second insulating layer that covers the multiple first conductive traces and the first insulating layer, wherein: ends of the multiple first conductive traces having the multiple connection sections are arranged in parallel to the length direction of the guidewire core, the multiple connection sections are arranged in a straight line parallel to a longitudinal axis of the guidewire core, the multiple connection sections each comprise an inner opening that is opened on the second insulating layer so as to reach a corresponding first conductive trace, a respective conductive band made of a conductive material is arranged so as to cover at least a portion of each respective inner opening of the multiple connection sections, a respective conductive connection member is disposed on each respective inner opening, each respective connection section of the multiple connection sections is electrically connected with each respective conductive band via the respective conductive connection member, each respective conductive band is made of a different conductive material than each respective conductive connection member, each respective conductive band has an outer opening penetrating the conductive band in a thickness direction and each respective outer opening is arranged so as to overlap with each respective inner opening, the respective conductive connection member for electrically connecting each respective conductive band with each respective connection section is disposed inside each respective outer opening, and each respective conductive band comprises the respective conductive connection member that is made of an anisotropic conductive material and arranged so as to fill insides of the respective outer opening and the respective inner opening and cover the second insulating layer, and a C-shaped member that is made of a conductive material and disposed outside the respective conductive connection member. ### Claim 7 A guidewire comprising: a guidewire core, a first insulating layer disposed on a surface of the guidewire core, multiple first conductive traces arranged spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the guidewire core and disposed on a surface of the first insulating layer and along a length direction of the guidewire core, multiple connection sections disposed on a distal end side in a length direction of the multiple first conductive traces and electrically connected with an electronic component, and a second insulating layer that covers the multiple first conductive traces and the first insulating layer, wherein: ends of the multiple first conductive traces having the multiple connection sections are arranged in parallel to the length direction of the guidewire core, the multiple connection sections are arranged in a straight line parallel to a longitudinal axis of the guidewire core, the multiple connection sections each comprise an inner opening that is opened on the second insulating layer so as to reach a corresponding first conductive trace, a respective conductive band made of a conductive material is arranged so as to cover at least a portion of each respective inner opening of the multiple connection sections, each respective connection section of the multiple connection sections is electrically connected with each respective conductive band via a respective conductive connection member disposed in each respective inner opening, each respective conductive band is electrically connected with a printed wiring board equipped with the electronic component via a conductive connection member for a substrate, and the printed wiring board has a flexible substrate member located on the conductive band side and a rigid substrate member located on a distal end side of the flexible substrate member, and the electronic component is disposed on the rigid substrate member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The guidewire according to claim 7, wherein the rigid substrate member has an accommodation section for accommodating and mounting the electronic component, and the rigid substrate member is disposed on the distal end side of the guidewire core. ### Claim 9 A guidewire comprising: a guidewire core, a first insulating layer disposed on a surface of the guidewire core, multiple first conductive traces arranged spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the guidewire core and disposed on a surface of the first insulating layer and along a length direction of the guidewire core, a second insulating layer that covers the multiple first conductive traces and the first insulating layer, multiple connection sections disposed on at least one of distal and proximal end sides in a length direction of the multiple first conductive traces and electrically connected with an electronic component, and comprising an inner opening that is opened on the second insulating layer so as to reach a corresponding first conductive trace, conductive bands formed in a circumferential direction so as to cover the multiple connection sections and the second insulating layer, an outer opening penetrating the conductive bands in a thickness direction and arranged so as to overlap with the inner opening, and a conductive connection member disposed inside the outer opening and the inner opening to electrically connect the conductive bands with the connection sections, wherein the outer opening and the inner opening are arranged so as to overlap with each other while being offset from each other in the length direction of the guidewire core. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The guidewire according to claim 9, wherein an area of the inner opening is larger than an area of the outer opening. ### Claim 11 A guidewire comprising: a guidewire core, a first insulating layer disposed on a surface of the guidewire core, multiple first conductive traces arranged spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the guidewire core and disposed on a surface of the first insulating layer and along a length direction of the guidewire core, a second insulating layer that covers the multiple first conductive traces and the first insulating layer, multiple connection sections disposed on at least one of distal and proximal end sides in a length direction of the multiple first conductive traces and electrically connected with an electronic component, and comprising an inner opening that is opened on the second insulating layer so as to reach a corresponding first conductive trace, conductive bands formed in a circumferential direction so as to cover the multiple connection sections and the second insulating layer, an outer opening penetrating the conductive bands in a thickness direction and arranged so as to overlap with the inner opening, and a conductive connection member disposed inside the outer opening and the inner opening to electrically connect the conductive bands with the connection sections, wherein the outer opening is formed into a rectangular shape. ### Claim 12 A guidewire comprising: a guidewire core, a first insulating layer disposed on a surface of the guidewire core, multiple first conductive traces arranged spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the guidewire core and disposed on a surface of the first insulating layer and along a length direction of the guidewire core, a second insulating layer that covers the multiple first conductive traces and the first insulating layer, multiple connection sections disposed on at least one of distal and proximal end sides in a length direction of the multiple first conductive traces and electrically connected with an electronic component, and comprising an inner opening that is opened on the second insulating layer so as to reach a corresponding first conductive trace, conductive bands formed in a circumferential direction so as to cover the multiple connection sections and the second insulating layer, an outer opening penetrating the conductive bands in a thickness direction and arranged so as to overlap with the inner opening, and a conductive connection member disposed inside the outer opening and the inner opening to electrically connect the conductive bands with the connection sections, wherein the outer opening is formed into an inverse tapered shape where a width dimension on the end side of the conductive bands is small, and the width dimension gradually increases in a width direction of the conductive bands. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The guidewire according to claim 10, wherein each outer opening is formed on distal and proximal end sides in a width direction of the conductive bands. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The guidewire according to claim 10, wherein the conductive bands and the conductive connection member are made of conductive metal materials. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The guidewire according to claim 10, wherein the conductive connection member is made of an anisotropic conductive material that forms a conductive path in the thickness direction of the conductive bands by a pressure applied in the thickness direction of the conductive bands. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The guidewire according to claim 10, further comprising multiple second conductive traces disposed on a surface of the second insulating layer, a third insulating layer arranged so as to cover the multiple second conductive traces and the second insulating layer, multiple second connection sections arranged in a straight line parallel to a longitudinal axis of the guidewire core on at least one of distal and proximal end sides in a length direction of the multiple second conductive traces and electrically connected with an electronic component, and comprising a second inner opening opened on the third insulating layer so as to reach a corresponding second conductive trace, and a second conductive band formed in the circumferential direction of the guidewire core so as to cover at least one of the multiple second connection sections, wherein the at least one second connection section covered by the second conductive band is electrically connected with the second conductive band via the conductive connection member disposed on the second inner opening. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The guidewire according to claim 10, wherein the multiple first conductive traces include at least one group consisting of the multiple first conductive traces whose lengths are equal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The guidewire according to claim 17, wherein the multiple first conductive traces constituting the group are formed as a point-symmetrical pair. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The guidewire according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the multiple first conductive traces constituting the group has a meandering section so as to have the same length as of the other first conductive trace in the group.