# US 2013/0158516 A1 · Variable Stiffness Guidewire Systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158516 A1 - Document ID: US20130158516A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/770,918 - Filed: 2013-02-19 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2007-11-15 - Assignees: Wright-Ahn Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Jay Ralph Wright; Samuel Seunghae Ahn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158516A1 ## CPC - A61M 25/09041: {Mechanisms for insertion of guide wires} - A61M 25/09: Guide wires - 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)} ## Abstract A variable-stiffness guidewire system which comprises an elongated flexible guidewire. The guidewire has a body and a tensioning head coupled to the body. The tensioning head is slidably moveable with respect to a guidewire collar coupled to the body via a tensioning wire to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire. The guidewire includes one or more protrusions within a conduit of the guidewire collar which applies a frictional force to the tensioning wire to maintain the tensioning head a desired distance from the collar, thereby maintaining the desired stiffness in the guidewire. A tool can be utilized with the guidewire to engage the guidewire head and move the guidewire head a desired distance from the guidewire collar to achieve a desired stiffness. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A variable-stiffness guidewire assembly comprising: an elongated flexible guidewire, the guidewire having a body having a proximal end and a distal end, the guidewire including a tensioning wire having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the distal end of the body, the guidewire including a tension head coupled to the second end of the tensioning wire, wherein the tensioning wire is longitudinally movable with respect to the body to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire, the guidewire including a collar located at the proximal end of the guidewire, the collar including at least one protrusion within which applies a frictional force onto the tensioning wire to maintain the tension head at a desired distance with respect to the guidewire; and a tool configured to receive and secure the tensioning head and the collar within, the tool including a main body and an actuator in longitudinal communication with the main body, wherein the actuator is longitudinally moveable with respect to the main body to move the tensioning head a desired distance with respect to the collar to achieve a desired stiffness in the guidewire. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The variable-stiffness guidewire assembly of claim 1, wherein the tensioning head is secured within the actuator with a pin vice. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The variable-stiffness guidewire assembly of claim 1, wherein the collar is secured within the main body with a pin vice. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The variable-stiffness guidewire assembly of claim 1, further comprising a stopping mechanism coupled to the main body and the actuator, wherein the stopping mechanism limits movement of the actuator with respect to the main body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The variable-stiffness guidewire assembly of claim 1, further comprising a flange extending from an outer surface of the actuator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The variable-stiffness guidewire assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator further comprises a first end and a second end, the first end of the actuator facing the second end of the main body, the actuator includes a hollow cylindrical tube extending from the second end located in the main body, the cylindrical tube adapted to allow at least the tensioning head to pass therethrough to the actuator. ### Claim 7 A tool for use with a variable-stiffness guidewire, the tool comprising: a cylindrical main body having a first end and a second end, the main body having an aperture at the first end to receive a portion of a guidewire, the main body having a first securing feature to grasp a collar of the guidewire within; and an actuator coupled to the main body at the second end and moveable along a longitudinal axis with respect to the main body between a non-extended position and an extended position, the actuator having a second securing feature to grasp a tension head of the guidewire within, wherein the tool increases stiffness of the guidewire by moving the actuator from the non-extended position to the extended position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tool of claim 7, wherein the first and second securing features are pin vices. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The tool of claim 7, further comprising a stopping mechanism coupled to the main body and the actuator, wherein the stopping mechanism limits movement of the actuator with respect to the main body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The tool of claim 7, further comprising a flange extending from an outer surface of the actuator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The tool of claim 7, wherein the actuator further comprises a first end and a second end, the first end of the actuator facing the second end of the main body, the actuator includes a hollow cylindrical tube extending from the second end located in the main body, the cylindrical tube adapted to allow at least the tensioning head to pass therethrough to the actuator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The tool of claim 7, wherein the first and second securing features are freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis.