Loading patent…
AssigneeIntella Interventional Systems, Inc.
InventorsDignah B. Quiachon, Robert A. Guziak, Dennis L. Brooks, Deepak R. Gandhi, Mir A. Imran, Roger J. Guidi
Estimating the term…
Guide wire for use in a medical procedure and for use with a power supply comprising a solid core wire having proximal and distal extremities. The proximal extremity has a predetermined diameter. At least a portion of the distal extremity has a reduced size with respect to the predetermined diameter. A flexible coil is secured to the distal extremity of the core wire and extends over the portion of the core wire having a reduced size. An actuator member is disposed proximal of the coil and extends along the core wire. Electrical conductors extend from the proximal extremity of the core wire to the actuator member for supplying heat to the actuator member. The actuator member is formed of a temperature activated metal alloy having a Young's modulus of 4.times.10.sup.6 to 14.times.10.sup.6 psi which increases in stiffness when heat is supplied thereto to increase the stiffness of the guide wire proximally of the coil.
A guide wire for use in a medical procedure and for use with a power supply comprising a solid core wire having proximal and distal extremities, the proximal extremity having a predetermined diameter, at least a portion of the distal extremity having a reduced size with respect to the predetermined diameter, a flexible coil secured to the distal extremity of the core wire and extending over the portion of the core wire having a reduced size, an actuator member disposed proximal of the coil and extending along the core wire, electrical conductive means extending from the proximal extremity of the core wire and to the actuator member for supplying heat to the actuator member, said actuator member being formed of a temperature activated metal alloy having a Young's modulus of 4.times.10.sup.6 to 14.times.10.sup.6 psi which increases in stiffness when heat is supplied thereto to increase the stiffness of the guide wire proximally of the coil.
A guide wire having a distal extremity with an adjustable support characteristic comprising a core wire having proximal and distal extremities, said distal extremity having a reduced cross sectional area to provide a distal extremity which is more flexible than the proximal extremity, means forming a tip secured to the distal extremity of the core wire, a superelastic sleeve of temperature activated metal alloy coaxially disposed on the distal extremity of the core wire, said superelastic sleeve being annealed so it is relatively flexible at a temperature ranging from 20.degree. to 40.degree. C. and becomes progressively stiffer as temperature increases, conductive means carried by the core wire for conducting electrical energy to the superelastic sleeve for supplying heat to the sleeve and extending from the proximal extremity of the core wire to the sleeve to cause the sleeve to become stiffer to thereby increase the stiffness of the distal extremity of the guide wire whereby a guide wire is provided having a distal extremity with an adjustable support characteristic which varies from a floppy characteristic to a stiff characteristic.
A guide wire for use in a medical procedure for use with a power supply comprising a core wire having proximal and distal extremities, the proximal extremity having a predetermined diameter and at least a portion of the distal extremity having reduced diameter with respect to said predetermined diameter, a coil secured to the distal extremity of the core wire, an actuator member having proximal and distal extremities disposed within the coil, electrical means carried by the core wire and connected between the proximal and distal extremities of the actuator member, said actuator member being formed so that it has a decreasing mass extending from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity, said actuator member being formed of a shape memory alloy and having a predetermined shape memory causing it to bend when electrical energy is supplied thereto, said actuator member having a decreasing mass in a direction from the proximal extremity to the distal extremity so that as electrical energy is supplied thereto the position of the bend changes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.