Extendable guidewire for cardiovascular procedures

Claim 1

An extendable guidewire system comprising: a) a main guidewire section adapted to be inserted into a patient's vascular system which has a mating end; and b) a guidewire extension section having a mating end and a connection therebetween including a tubular member fixed to a mating end of one of the guidewire sections and a male member on the mating end of the other guidewire section having a maximum radial dimension slightly greater than the inner diameter of the tubular member which is adapted to be inserted into the tubular member to thereby releasably secure the two sections together.

Claim 9

A method of using an extendable system in a vascular procedure, said guidewire having a pair of axially elongated sections with a connection at the mating ends thereof, one end of said sections comprising a tubular member and the end of the other of said sections comprising a male member having a maximum radial dimension slightly greater than the inner diameter of the tubular member, the method comprising the steps of: a) introducing a main guidewire section into the vascular system of a patient with the proximal ends thereof having a male connection member remaining outside the body of the patient; b) advancing a first catheter along the wire section within the vascular system; c) detachably connecting a tubular element fixed to the distal end of an extension wire section to a male member on the proximal end of the main guidewire section by manually inserting the male end portion of the main guidewire section into the tubular member fixed to the extension section so that it grips the male member, withdrawing the first catheter from the vascular system of the patient over the two guidewire sections, introducing a second catheter into the patient's vascular system over the two wire sections; and d) removing the extension section by manually pulling the two guidewire sections apart to disengage the male member from the tubular member with the main guidewire section remaining in place in the vascular system of the patient.

Claim 10

A method of using an extendable system in a vascular procedure, said guidewire having a pair of axially elongated sections with a connection at the mating ends thereof, one end of said sections comprising a tubular member and the end of the other of said sections comprising a male member having a maximum radial dimension slightly greater than the inner diameter of the tubular member, the method comprising the steps of: a) introducing a main guidewire section into the vascular system of a patient with the proximal ends thereof having a male connection member remaining outside the body of the patient; b) advancing a first catheter along the wire section within the vascular system; c) detachably connecting a tubular element fixed to the distal end of an extension wire section to a male member on the proximal end of the main guidewire section by manually inserting the male end portion of the main guidewire section into the tubular member fixed to the extension section so that it grips the male member, withdrawing the first catheter from the vascular system of the patient over the two guidewire sections, introducing a second catheter into the patient's vascular system over the two wire sections; and d) removing the extension section by manually pulling the two guidewire sections apart to disengage the male member from the tubular member with the main guidewire section remaining in place in the vascular system of the patient.