US 6,648,837 B2Granted

Medical guide wire

AssigneeAsahi Intec Co., Ltd.

InventorsTomihisa Kato, Satoshi Nagano

Life of this patent

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Abstract

In medical guide wire (1A), a tapered second helical spring (7) is interposed continuously between a first helical spring (6) and the third helical spring (8) each wound around a leading end portion (2). From a middle portion of the second helical spring (7) to a leading top end of the first helical spring (6), a spiral blood stream path (10) is serially provided along a line gap (C1) of the helical springs (7, 6). A gap-stopper (12) is provided between the leading end portion (2) and the second helical spring (7) in order to induce a high speed spiral blood flow (17) along the spiral blood stream path (10) when the leading end portion (2) reaches a diseased area (13). The high speed spiral blood flow (17) provides the leading end portion (2) with the advancing force (F) and the rotational force (T).

Claims3

Dependent claims

A medical guide wire comprising:

an elongated flexible core member which is circular in cross section, the core member having a leading end portion fixed to a head plug and also having a rearward portion;
a helical spring which is concentrically and loosely wound around said core member from the head plug to its rearward portion in the manner that a space appears between said leading end portion and said helical spring;
said helical spring having a diameter-equally-reduced front portion, a diameter-equally-increased rear portion and a tapered portion between said front and rear portions;
a gap stopper provided to stop a gap between a halfway portion of said tapered portion of said helical spring and said core member;
line element turns of said helical spring being tight from said gap stopper to a rearward portion of said helical spring, and line element turns of said helical spring being loose from said gap stopper to the head plug;
and
a blood stream path provided within said helical spring to be directed from said gap stopper to the head plug when said leading end portion reaches a vascular stricture area.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/884,913Filed 21 Jun 2001
Published: US 2002/0198468 A126 Dec 2002
Granted: 18 Nov 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A61M 25/09
Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters: guide wires
A61M 2025/09083
Basic structures of guide wires: having a coil around a core
A61M 2025/09175
Guide wires: having specific characteristics at the distal tip
A61M 2025/1097
With special features or adapted for special applications: with perfusion means for enabling blood circulation only while the balloon is in an…