Guidewire and method of manufacture
AssigneeApplied Medical Resources Corporation
InventorsMark P. Ashby, Edward L. Olson, Carl B. Hadley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical guidewire having a distal section and a proximal section includes a core with a first end and a second end. A longitudinal spring disposed circumferentially of the core has a first end coupled to the second end of the core and a second end which extends distally of the core. A sheath has a spaced sliding relationship with at least a portion of the spring and a frictional fixed relationship with at least a portion of the core. An associated method of manufacture includes the step of selecting from a group of sheaths having different characteristics but a common inside diameter, a particular sheath desired for the guidewire.
Claims16
A surgical guidewire having an axis extending between a proximal section and a distal section, comprising:
- a core having a first end disposed in the proximal section of the guidewire and a second end disposed in the distal section of the guidewire;
- a longitudinal spring disposed in the distal section circumferentially of the second end of the core;
- a semirigid sheath having a tubular configuration and extending between a first end and a second end, the first end of the sheath being disposed circumferentially of the spring in the distal section;
- and
- means for coupling the second end of the sheath to the core in a fixed relationship, while permitting portions of the first end of the sheath to be radially spaced from the spring to enhance the flexibility of the distal section of the guidewire;
- said portions of the first end of the sheath being axially movable relative to the spring.
A surgical guidewire having a distal end and a proximal end, the guidewire including:
- a proximal section including the proximal end of the guidewire;
- a distal section including the distal end of the guidewire;
- a transition section disposed in the distal section;
- a core extending longitudinally in the proximal section and the transition section;
- a spring having a first end and a second end, the first end of the spring being disposed in the transition section and the second end of the spring being disposed in the distal section beyond the transition section, and extending distally beyond the distal end of the guidewire;
- a sheath extending circumferentially of the core and the spring;
- the sheath having a spaced relationship with the spring in the distal section;
- the sheath having a fixed relationship with the core in the proximal section;
- and
- portions of the sheath being axially movable relative to the spring.
A method for manufacturing a surgical guidewire having a proximal section and a distal section, the method including the steps of:
- providing a core having a first end and a second end, the first end of the core having an outside diameter and the second end of the core having a taper;
- providing a spring having a longitudinal configuration and extending between a first end and a second end;
- coupling the first end of the spring to the second end of the core along at least a portion of the taper;
- providing a group of sheaths each having characteristics including an inside diameter, an outside diameter, and an outside surface configuration, each of the sheaths in the group having at least one first characteristic which is the same for all of the sheaths in the group and at least one second characteristic which is different for all of the sheaths in the group;
- sliding one of said sheaths over the core and the spring;
- and
- forming the selected sheath over the core and the spring to provide the guidewire with a predetermined configuration.
A surgical guidewire having an axis extending between a proximal section and a distal section, comprising:
- a core having a first end disposed in the proximal section of the guidewire and a second end disposed in the distal section of the guidewire;
- a longitudinal spring disposed in the distal section circumferentially of the second end of the core;
- a sheath having a tubular configuration and being disposed circumferentially of the spring in the distal section;
- and
- adhesive material disposed at the distal end of the sheath.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.