Guidewire extension system

A flexible extension wire for connecting to a flexible guidewire for use in exchanging human vessel tracking devices, the extension wire comprising:

• a flexible extension element;
• and
• a flexible mechanical coupling at one end of the extension element, the mechanical coupling including:
• a flexible tubular outer body extending longitudinally from the extension element, the tubular outer body having a wall defining an inside cavity and opening at each end of the outer body,
• a left-handed wound helical wire formed to adhere to the inside wall of the tubular outer body for mechanically locking an end of the extension element engaging the helical element, and
• a guidewire retention element for mechanically locking an end of a guidewire.

A guidewire extension system for use in exchanging human vessel tracking devices, the guidewire extension system comprising:

• an elongate flexible tubular outer body extending longitudinally, the outer body having a wall defining an outer cavity and openings at each end of the outer body;
• a flexible guidewire having a connection end;
• a flexible extension wire having a connection end;
• a guidewire retention element located within the cavity of the tubular outer body for mechanically locking an end of the guidewire;
• and
• an extension wire retention element located within the cavity of the tubular outer body for mechanically locking an end of the extension wire;
• wherein both the connection end of the guidewire is engaged to the guidewire retention element and the connection end of the extension wire is engaged to the extension wire retention element by rotating the outer body.

A connector for connecting an extension wire to a guidewire for use in exchanging vessel tracking devices, the connector comprising:

• an outer body extending longitudinally;
• a wall defining an opening in each end of the body and defining a cavity extending longitudinally within the body;
• a guidewire retention element located within the cavity of the outer body for retaining an end of a guidewire wherein the guidewire retention is effected by rotating the outer body;
• a extension wire retention element located within the cavity of the outer body for retaining an end of an extension wire wherein the extension wire retention is effected by rotating the outer body;
• an extension wire having a tapered end connection portion and retained by the extension wire retention element;
• and
• a guidewire having a tapered end connection portion and retained by the guidewire retention element;
• wherein the tapered end connection portions of the extension wire and guidewire frictionally engage and thereby mechanically lock the end of the outer body wall when the outer body and the extension wire and the guidewire are fully engaged.

A method of connecting a flexible small diameter extension wire to a flexible small diameter guidewire for the purpose of exchanging human vessel tracking devices, comprising:

• coupling the extension wire to a connector;
• coupling the guidewire to the connector;
• rotating the connector to simultaneously pull the guidewire and extension wire together and to mechanically lock the extension wire and guidewire together;
• and
• providing said connector and coupled portions of said wires with a flexibility such that with said wires connected to said connector a flexibility at said connector is provided which is substantially the same as the flexibility of said wires.

A flexible extension wire for connecting to a flexible guidewire for use in exchanging human vessel tracking devices, the extension wire comprising:

• a flexible extension element;
• and
• a flexible mechanical coupling at one end of the extension element, the mechanical coupling including:
• an elongate flexible tubular outer body extending longitudinally from the extension element, the tubular outer body having a wall defining an inside cavity and openings at each end of the outer body,
• left-handed helical threads formed on the inside wall of the tubular outer body for mechanically locking an end of the extension element engaging the helical groove, and
• a guidewire retention element for mechanically locking an end of a guidewire.

A flexible coupling structure for securing together a small diameter flexible extension wire and a flexible guide wire of like diameter and transmitting both tension and pushing forces between the wires, said coupling structure comprising:

• each of said guide wire and said extension wire including a respective elongate flexible connection end portion of reduced diameter, said connection end portions each including a tapering part defining a tapering surface section adjacent the remainder of each wire and said connection end portions also terminating at a respective tip surface, each of said connection end portions including a respective tip portion proximate to said tip surface, and said tip portions of each wire defining respective thread-engaging means of opposite hand;
• an elongate flexible tubular body having a circumferential wall defining an outer diameter substantially like said guide wire and said extension wire, said wall defining opposite end openings to said body and a cavity extending between said openings, said tubular body at a central part thereof spaced from said end openings including thread-defining means having respective portions of opposite hand extending longitudinally of said body for threadably engaging said thread-engaging means of both said guide wire and said extension wire;
• whereby said guide wire and said extension wire at said connection end portions thereof are each receivable into said tubular body to threadably engage said thread-engaging means of each with said thread-defining means of said body so that rotation of said body relative both said guide wire and extension wire simultaneously draws the connection end portions of the wires together to abut said tip surfaces with one another and frictionally engages said tapering surface sections of each connection end portion with said body at a respective end opening thereof, and said body and connection end portions together having a flexibility approximating the flexibility of said guide wire and extension wire.