# US 4,925,445 A · Guide wire for catheter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,925,445 A - Document ID: US4925445A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/309,029 - Filed: 1989-02-09 - Granted: 1990-05-15 - Earliest claimed: 1983-09-16 - Assignees: Fuji Terumo Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hidetoshi Sakamoto; Kenjiro Uematsu; Masashi Momota; Susumu Tanabe; Tatsuo Suzuki; Toshihiko Endo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4925445A ## CPC - A61L 31/022: {Metals or alloys} - A61M 25/09: Guide wires - A61L 2400/16: Materials with shape-memory or superelastic properties - A61M 2025/09075: {having a core without a coil possibly combined with a sheath} - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - 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 guide wire for a catheter having a body portion comparatively high in rigidity and a distal end portion comparatively flexible. At least portions of the body portion and the distal end portion are formed of a super-elastic metallic member. At least portions of inner core portions on the body portion's side and on the distal end portion's side, both of which are coated by a plastic, are formed of the super-elastic metallic member, and at least a portion of the inner core portion on the distal end portion's side is made smaller in cross-section than the inner core portion on the body portion's side. In consequence, the catheter can be reliably and readily introduced to a predetermined position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A guide wire for inserting a surrounding tubular catheter into the body of a warm-blooded animal such as a human being, comprising: an elongate body portion comparatively high in rigidity and a comparatively flexible elongate distal end portion coupled axially to said body portion, wherein at least a portion of said distal end portion is smaller in cross-section than said body portion, and a portion between said body portion and said distal end portion is progressively reduced in cross-section from said body portion toward distal end portion and said distal end portion is substantially more flexible than said body portion, and at least a portion of at least one of said body portion and said distal end portion being formed of a super-elastic metallic member having a solid cross-section and being in a non-coiled monofilament form, said super-elastic metallic member including an alloy having a temperature at which transformation to austenite is complete which is at most about 10.degree. C. so that said metallic member exhibits pseudoelasticity when inserted into the body of said warm-blooded animal, said alloy being selected from the group consisting of Ti-Ni alloy consisting essentially of 49-58 atom % Ni and the balance substantially Ti, Cu-Zn alloy consisting essentially of 38.5-41.5 wt. % Zn and the balance substantially Cu, Cu-Zn-alloy consisting essentially of 38.5-41.5 wt. % Zn, 1-10 wt. % X wherein X is Be, Si, Xn, Al or Ga, and the balance substantially Cu, and Ni-Al alloy consisting essentially of 36-38 atom % Al, and the balance substantially Ni. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The guide wire for a catheter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body portion is formed of the super-elastic metallic member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The guide wire for a catheter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said distal end portion is formed of the super-elastic metallic member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The guide wire for a catheter as set forth in claim 1, wherein both the body portion and the distal end portion are formed of the super-elastic metallic member. ### Claim 5 A guide wire for inserting a surrounding tubular catheter into the body of a warm-blooded animal such as a human being, comprising; an elongate body portion and an elongate distal end portion; coupled axially to said body portion; said body and distal end portions including: an inner core which includes a first inner core portion on said body portion's side and a second inner core portion on said distal end portion's side; an intermediate inner core portion between the inner core portion on the body portion's side and the inner core portion on the distal end portion's side, said intermediate inner core portion being progressively reduced in cross-section from the body portion toward the distal end portion; and whereby at least a portion of said distal end portion is smaller in cross-section than said body portion and a plastic coating covering said inner core as a whole; said body portion being comparatively high in rigidity and said distal and portion being substantially more flexible than said body portion; at least a portion of at least one of said first and second inner core portions being formed of a super-elastic metallic member having a solid cross-section and which includes an alloy selected from the group consisting of Ti-Ni alloy consisting essentially of 49-58 atom % Ni and the balance substantially Ti, Cu-Zn alloy consisting essentially of 38.5-41.5 wt % Zn and the balance substantially Cu, Cu-Zn-X, consisting essentially of 38.5-41.5 wt. % Zn, 1-10 wt, % X (X=Be, Si, Al or Ga) and the balance substantially Cu, and Ni-Al alloy consisting essentially of 36-38 atom % Al and the balance substantially Ni; the selected alloy forming said super-elastic metallic member being such that the temperature at which transformation to austenite is complete is at most about 10.degree. C.; and at least a portion of said second inner core portion on the distal end portion's side being smaller in cross-section than said first inner core portion on the body portion's side, wherein the guide wire is in a non-coiled monofilament form, and said metallic member exhibits pseudo-elasticity when inserted into the body of said warm-blooded animal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The guide wire for a catheter as set forth in claim 5, wherein said plastic coating has substantially equal outer diameters at the distal end portion and at the body portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5, 6) The guide wire for a catheter as set forth in any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein said inner core portion on the body portion's side is formed of the super-elastic metallic member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5, 6) The guide wire for a catheter as set forth in any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein said inner core portion on the distal end portion's side is formed of the super-elastic metallic member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5, 6) The guide wire for a catheter as set forth in any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein both the inner core portions on the body portion's side and on the distal end portion's side are formed of the super-elastic metallic member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5, 6) The guide wire for a catheter as set forth in any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein said plastic coating comprises a hollow pipe. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5, 6) The guide wire for a catheter as set forth in any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein said plastic coating comprises a coating film. ### Claim 12 A guide wire for inserting a surrounding tubular catheter into the body of a warm-blooded animal such as a human being, comprising; an elongate body portion and an elongate distal end portion; coupled axially to said body portion; said body and distal end portions including: an inner core which includes a first inner core portion on said body portion's side and a second inner core portion on said distal end portion's side; and a plastic coating covering said inner core as a whole; said body portion being comparatively high in rigidity and having a yield stress in the range of 10 to 80 kg/mm.sup.2 and said distal and portion being substantially more flexible than said body portion and having a yield stress less than the yield stress of said body portion and in the range of 10 to 80 kg/mm.sup.2 ; at least a portion of at least one of said first and second inner core portions being formed of a super-elastic metallic member having a solid cross-section and which includes an alloy selected from the group consisting of Ti-Ni alloy consisting essentially of 49-58 atom % Ni and the balance substantially Ti, Cu-Zn alloy consisting essentially of 38.5-41.5 wt % Zn and the balance substantially Cu, Cu-Zn-X, consisting essentially of 38.5-41.5 wt. % Zn, 1-10 wt, % X (X=Be, Si, Al or Ga) and the balance substantially Cu, and Ni-Al alloy consisting essentially of 36-38 atom % Al and the balance substantially Ni; the selected alloy forming said super-elastic metallic member being such that the temperature at which transformation to austenite is complete is at most about 10.degree. C.; at least a portion of said second inner core portion on the distal end portion's side being smaller in cross-section than said first inner core portion on the body portion's side, at least a portion of said distal end portion being smaller in cross-section than said body portion, and an intermediate inner core portion between the inner core portion on the body portion's side and the inner core portion on the distal end portion's side, said intermediate inner core portion being progressively reduced in cross-section from the body portion toward the distal end portion, wherein the guide wire is in a non-coiled monofilament form, and said metallic member exhibits pseudo-elasticity when inserted into the body of said warm-blooded animal.