Flexible catheter guidewire
AssigneeMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
InventorsRobert S. Schwartz, David Berry, Frederick S. Halverson, James V. Donadio, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for use as a catheter guidewire and a method for making a catheter guidewire. The apparatus comprises an elongate non-coiled wire having a proximal portion, a distal tip and a flexible portion located between the proximal portion and the distal tip having axially spaced grooves cut therein. The method for making the guidewire includes burnishing one end of a wire to create a rounded distal tip and cutting a predetermined pattern of axially spaced grooves in a length of wire adjacent to the distal tip to create a flexible portion.
Claims22
A guidewire with a flexible distal end for use with catheters or the like comprising:
- a metal wire having a proximal portion, a distal tip and a flexible portion therebetween, the flexible portion having a plurality of grooves formed in the metal wire so as to provide a desired flexibility, the grooves increasing in depth toward the distal tip to create a generally tapered core.
A guidewire with a flexible distal end for use with catheters or the like comprising:
- a. a continuous metal wire having a proximal portion, a distal tip having a rounded end and a flexible portion generally located between the proximal portion and distal tip, the flexible portion having axially spaced grooves formed in the metal wire that are arranged and configured to create a core in the flexible portion that tapers inward toward the distal tip;
- and
- b. coating means to increase the mobility of the guidewire.
A process for making a guidewire with a flexible distal end for use with catheters or the like comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a metal wire having a distal tip;
- b. cutting a plurality of axially spaced grooves in the metal wire along a length of the wire adjacent the distal tip;
- and
- c. increasing the depth of the grooves toward the distal tip to create a flexible portion of the distal end of the guidewire.
A process for making a guidewire with a flexible distal end for use with catheters or the like comprising the steps of:
- a. providing a continuous metal wire having a distal tip;
- b. burnishing the distal tip to a rounded shape;
- c. cutting a predetermined pattern of axially spaced grooves in the metal wire along a predetermined length of the wire adjacent to the distal tip to create a flexible portion of the distal end of the guidewire;
- d. coating the guidewire with a polymer to increase the mobility of the guidewire;
- and
- e. plating the distal tip with a radiopaque material to enable the guidewire to be viewed on an x-ray.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.