# US 12,758,408 B2 · Locking assembly for coupling guidewire to delivery system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,758,408 B2 - Document ID: US12758408B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 19/011,555 - Filed: 2025-01-06 - Published: 2025-09-04 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-30 - Assignees: Endologix, Inc. - Applicants: Endologix LLC - Inventors: Kevin Chu; Rolando Lee; Craig Welk; Bryant Tran - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12758408B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/954: for placing stents or stent-grafts in a bifurcation - A61F 2/06: Blood vessels - A61F 2/966: with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod - A61M 39/1011: {Locking means for securing connection; Additional tamper safeties (A61M39/16 takes precedence)} - A61M 39/105: {Multi-channel connectors or couplings, e.g. for connecting multi-lumen tubes (multi-channel connectors in general F16L37/56)} - A61F 2002/065: {Y-shaped blood vessels} - A61F 2/07: Stent-grafts - A61M 2039/1016: {Unlocking means providing a secure or comfortable disconnection} - A61M 2205/0216: Materials providing elastic properties, e.g. for facilitating deformation and avoid breaking - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - 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)} ## Abstract A locking assembly for releasably coupling a first elongate member to a second elongate member is provided. The locking assembly can include a first lumen for anchoring the locking assembly to a catheter and a second lumen for releasably retaining a guidewire to the locking assembly. A release member can interface with the locking assembly and apply a force that decouples the guidewire from the locking assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of accessing a patient's vessel comprising, placing a delivery catheter comprising a locking assembly and an elongated structure in the patient vessel, wherein locking assembly comprises: a housing comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and a lateral wall portion; a first lumen extending from the proximal end of the housing to the distal end of the housing; and a second lumen extending from the distal end of the housing, said second lumen having a first diameter and a second diameter, said second lumen being configured to releasably receive the elongate structure; and advancing a release member along the elongated structure to disengage the elongated structure from housing, wherein advancing the release member places a vertical force on the elongated structure, thereby disengaging the elongated structure from the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the vessel bifurcates to a first branch and second branch, and the delivery catheter is placed in the vessel through the first branch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, comprising advancing the release member through the second branch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the release member is a sheath. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second lumen second diameter is smaller than the first diameter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising a first elongated structure and a second elongated structure, wherein the housing first lumen receives the first elongated structure and the second lumen receives the second elongated structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein advancing the release member places a vertical force on the second elongated structure to decouple the same from the first elongated structure. ### Claim 8 A method of releasing a guidewire from a catheter in a vessel comprising: placing a delivery catheter comprising a locking assembly and a guidewire in the vessel; wherein the locking assembly comprises: a housing comprising a first lumen and a second lumen; and an interlock portion configured to retain a distal portion of the guidewire; and advancing a sheath along the guidewire and disengage the guidewire from the second lumen, wherein advancing the sheath places a vertical force on the guidewire, thereby disengaging the guidewire from the housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the vessel is bifurcated to an ipsilateral branch and a contralateral branch, and the delivery catheter is advanced through the ipsilateral branch. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the guidewire is a contralateral guidewire and extends into the contralateral branch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the interlock portion comprises a lumen, the lumen of the interlock portion being shaped to retain the contralateral guidewire when the contralateral guidewire is retracted. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the second lumen comprises a distal portion, a proximal portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween, a diameter of the intermediate portion being less than a diameter of the distal portion and a diameter of the proximal portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising a retention member configured to frictionally retain the contralateral guidewire when the contralateral guidewire is advanced. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, comprising applying a vertical force to an intermediate portion of the contralateral guidewire to release the contralateral wire from the interlock portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the delivery catheter further comprises a prosthesis, and wherein the method further comprises at least partially deploying the prosthesis before disengaging the guidewire from the second lumen. ### Claim 16 A method of releasing a first elongate member from a second elongate member in a vessel, comprising: placing a delivery catheter comprising a housing, a first elongate member and a second elongate member in the vessel; wherein a first housing lumen extends within the housing and receives the first elongate member from a side of the housing, wherein a second housing lumen extends within the housing and receives the second elongate member from a side of the housing; and advancing a sheath along the second elongate member to disengage the second elongate member from the second housing lumen, wherein advancing the sheath places a vertical force on the second elongate member, thereby disengaging the second elongate member from the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the second elongate member comprises a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion having a greater stiffness than the proximal portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein advancing the sheath along the second elongate member applies a vertical force between about 0.01 and about 6.0 lbf to the second elongate member.