# US 8,540,648 B2 · Guide wire with marking pattern > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,648 B2 - Document ID: US8540648B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/921,513 - Filed: 2008-03-11 - Published: 2011-01-27 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-11 - Assignees: EPflex Feinwerktechnik GmbH - Applicants: Bernhard Uihlein - Inventors: Bernhard Uihlein - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540648B2 ## CPC - A61M 25/09: Guide wires - A61M 2025/0008: {having visible markings on its surface, i.e. visible to the naked eye, for any purpose, e.g. insertion depth markers, rotational markers or identification of type} - A61M 2025/09166: {having radio-opaque features} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A guide wire for a medical instrument, such as an endoscope, has a marking pattern, which extends at least across part of the axial length of the guide wire and includes markings of different marking types that can be sensed. On the guide wire, markings of first and second marking types are formed by marking surfaces, of which the marking surfaces of at least the first marking type each extend across only part of the circumferential surface of the guide wire and across only part of the axial length of the marking pattern, and in the axial direction of the guide wire follow each other at a distance by at least one interposed marking surface of the second marking type. At least one longitudinal marking strip is formed as a marking of a third marking type, which extends continuously across the axial length of the marking pattern. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A guide wire for a medical instrument, comprising: a marking pattern, which extends over at least a part of the axial length of the guide wire and comprises detectable markings of at least three different types of markings; wherein markings of a first and second marking type are formed by marking surfaces, of which the marking surfaces of at least the first marking type each extend only over a part of the circumferential length of the guide wire and only over a part of the axial length of the marking pattern and follow one after the other in the axial direction of the guide wire with spacing by way of at least one intermediate marking surface of the second marking type; and wherein at least one longitudinal marking strip is formed as a marking of a third marking type, which extends continuously over the entire axial length of the marking pattern. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The guide wire according to claim 1, wherein the markings of at least one of the first marking type and the second marking type are formed by ring segment marking surfaces that are rectangular, diamond shaped or circular in a circumferential development of the guide wire. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The guide wire according to claim 2, wherein the markings of the first and the second marking type are formed by the respective ring segment marking surfaces that exhibit a definable expansion in the circumferential and axial direction of the guide wire and that are arranged so as to alternate in the axial direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The guide wire according to claim 3, wherein axially successive ring segment marking surfaces of each of the first and the second marking type form pairs, each pair being arranged with an offset in the circumferential direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The guide wire according to claim 1, wherein the at least one longitudinal marking strip extends with or without a circumferential direction component. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The guide wire according to claim 1, further comprising as the markings of the third marking type, a plurality of longitudinal marking strips, which are spaced apart in the circumferential direction, wherein the marking surfaces of the first and the second marking type are located in an area between the plurality of longitudinal marking strips. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The guide wire according to claim 1, wherein the markings of at least one of the first, second and third marking type are visually detectable or radiographically detectable markings. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The guide wire according to claim 1, further comprising: a core wire; and a sheathing, the sheathing enveloping the core wire; wherein the at least one longitudinal marking strip is formed by the sheathing through the use of different materials for the sheathing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The guide wire according to claim 8, wherein the core wire is tapered in a first distal end section of the guide wire as compared to an adjoining second section, and the sheathing in the distal end section has a larger cross sectional area than in the first section, wherein at least one longitudinal marking strip exhibits in the distal end section a larger cross sectional area than in the first section. ### Claim 10 A guide wire for a medical instrument, comprising: a marking pattern, which extends over at least a part of the axial length of the guide wire and comprises detectable markings of at least two different types of markings; wherein markings of a first marking type are transverse strip structures, which are distinguishable from each other and are arranged with axial spacing in relation to each other and extend over more than half the guide wire circumference in the circumferential direction; and wherein markings of a second marking type are at least one of marking surfaces and longitudinal marking strips in at least the area between each pair of transverse strip structures, wherein one of (a) the marking surfaces extend only over a part of the circumferential length of the guide wire and only over a part of the axial length of the marking pattern and follow one after the other in the axial direction of the guide wire with at least one of an offset in the circumferential direction and an axial spacing, and (b) the longitudinal marking strips extend continuously between the transverse strip structures. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The guide wire according to claim 10, wherein the differentiable transverse strip structures are formed by a varying number of closely adjacent individual strips. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The guide wire according to claim 10, wherein the marking surfaces of the second marking type are ring segment marking surfaces that are rectangular, diamond shaped, oval or circular in the circumferential development of the guide wire and that are of solid or hollow surface area shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The guide wire according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of longitudinal marking strips are arranged offset in at least one of the axial direction and the circumferential direction of the guide wire. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The guide wire according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the longitudinal marking strips has the shape of a wavy line or zigzag. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The guide wire according to claim 14, wherein at least two longitudinal marking strips, which are arranged in different axial areas between the respective transverse strip structures, exhibit different wavy line or zigzag forms.