Guidewire

A guidewire for use insertion within vasculature of a subject, which comprises:

• an elongate guide member dimensioned for insertion within vasculature of a subject, the elongate guide member defining a longitudinal axis and having leading and trailing ends, the elongate guide member including an elongate body segment and a leading tip segment, the elongate body segment defining a longitudinal opening and the leading tip segment being adapted and dimensioned to articulate relative to the elongate body segment about a single axis;
• a control element extending through the longitudinal opening of the elongate body segment and operatively coupled to the leading tip segment, the control element longitudinally movable through manual manipulation of a clinician;
• a base coupled to the elongate body segment;
• a pivoting member mounted to a pivot boss, the pivot boss extending generally along the single axis, and coupled to the base, the pivoting member coupled to the leading tip segment and to the control element, the pivoting member adapted to pivot relative to the base via the pivot boss and about the single axis in response to longitudinal movement of the control element to thereby cause corresponding pivoting movement of the leading tip segment about the single axis;
• a first actuator coupled to the guide member for imparting at least rotational movement to the guide member;
• and
• a second actuator coupled to the control element, the second actuator adapted for sliding longitudinal movement in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and relative to the first actuator to cause corresponding movement to the control element and articulating movement of the leading tip segment relative to the base and about the single axis.

An intravascular guidewire and microcatheter system, which comprises:

• an elongate guide member dimensioned for insertion within a body vessel of a subject, the elongate guide member defining a longitudinal axis and having leading and trailing ends, the elongate guide member including an elongate body segment and a leading tip segment, the leading tip segment being adapted and dimensioned to pivot movement relative to the elongate body segment;
• a control element operatively coupled to the leading tip segment, the control element longitudinally movable through manual manipulation of a clinician to cause corresponding pivoting movement of the leading tip segment;
• a handle connected to the control element, the handle adapted for longitudinal movement in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis to cause corresponding longitudinal movement of the control element;
• and
• a microcatheter defining a lumen receiving the elongated guide member.

A method for performing a medical procedure within a body lumen, comprising the steps of:

• advancing a guidewire through a vasculature toward a target location;
• selectively articulating a leading tip segment adjacent a leading end of the guidewire by longitudinally moving a control consisting of a single control element connected to the leading tip segment through manual manipulation by a clinician to pivot the leading tip segment about a single pivot axis and about a pivot boss operatively connecting the leading tip segment to a trailing segment of the guidewire to achieve a desired orientation of the leading tip segment with respect to the target location;
• introducing a catheter over the guidewire;
• and
• performing a medical procedure within the target location with the catheter.

A guidewire for use in a medical procedure, which comprises:

• an elongate guide member dimensioned for insertion within a body vessel of a subject, the elongate guide member defining a longitudinal axis and having leading and trailing ends, the elongate guide member including an elongate body segment and a leading tip segment, the elongate body segment defining a longitudinal opening, the leading tip segment being adapted and dimensioned for articulating movement relative to the elongate body segment, the articulating movement consisting of pivotal movement about a single axis of articulation;
• a control extending through the longitudinal opening of the elongate body segment and operatively coupled to the leading tip segment, the control longitudinally movable to cause corresponding articulating movement of the leading tip segment;
• and
• a handle coupled to the control, the handle adapted for sliding longitudinal movement in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the guide member to cause corresponding movement to the control element and articulating movement of the leading tip segment.