Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A movable core guidewire for guiding a catheter to a selected site within the body, comprising: an elongate, flexible helical coil having a proximal and distal end, said helical coil having a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough from the proximal to the distal end for slidably receiving a movable core wire; and a movable core wire having a proximal and distal end and a polymeric element including a flexible extension tip extending from the distal end of the core wire.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
A movable core guidewire for guiding a catheter to a selected site within the body, comprising: an elongate, flexible helical coil having a proximal and distal end, said helical coil having a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough from the proximal to the distal end for slidably receiving a movable core wire; and a movable core wire having a proximal and distal end and a polymeric element including a flexible extension tip extending from the distal end of the core wire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A movable core guidewire as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a safety wire extending longitudinally from the proximal to the distal end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A movable core guidewire as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a tip joint at the distal end of the helical coil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A movable core guidewire as claimed in claim 2 wherein the movable core wire is coated with a lubricious polymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A movable core guidewire as claimed in claim 2 wherein the movable core wire is coated with a lubricious polymer over a major portion of its length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A movable core guidewire as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the flexible polymer tip extension extends distally up to three millimeters beyond the distal tip of the movable core wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A movable core guidewire as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein the flexible polymeric extension extends distally about 1 mm beyond the distal tip of the movable core wire.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A movable core guidewire as claimed in claim 2 wherein the polymeric element is made of a polymer selected from the group consisting of a polytetrafluoroethylene or tetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A movable core guidewire as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the polymeric tip extension is a hollow tubular member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A movable core guidewire as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the polymeric tip extension is a solid member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A movable core guidewire as claimed in claims 2 or 9 wherein the polymeric extension is open-ended.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A movable core guidewire as claimed in claims 2 or 10 wherein the end of the polymeric extension is close-ended.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A movable core guidewire as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the distal portion of the movable core wire is tapered.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A movable core guidewire as claimed in claim 13 wherein the outside diameter of the polymeric extension narrows from the distal tip of the core wire to the distal tip of the extension.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
188 words
A movable core guidewire for guiding a catheter to a selected site within the body comprising: an elongate flexible helical coil having a proximal end and a distal end, the helical coil having a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough from the proximal to the distal end for slidably receiving a movable core wire; a movable core wire having a proximal end and a distal end and being slidably received in the lumen of the helical coil, a distal portion of the core wire being tapered and terminating in a distal tip smaller in diameter than the more proximal portions of the core wire; an elongate flexible tubular element formed from a flexible polymeric material mounted on the distal end of the tapered portion and having a tip extension extending distally beyond the distal tip of the core wire, the tip extension being dimensioned with respect to the core wire and helical coil such that when the tip extension engages the inner surface of the helical coil, the extension will deform in a manner that resists the tip of the core wire from protruding between a pair of adjacent coils.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
188 words
A movable core guidewire for guiding a catheter to a selected site within the body comprising: an elongate flexible helical coil having a proximal end and a distal end, the helical coil having a lumen extending longitudinally therethrough from the proximal to the distal end for slidably receiving a movable core wire; a movable core wire having a proximal end and a distal end and being slidably received in the lumen of the helical coil, a distal portion of the core wire being tapered and terminating in a distal tip smaller in diameter than the more proximal portions of the core wire; an elongate flexible tubular element formed from a flexible polymeric material mounted on the distal end of the tapered portion and having a tip extension extending distally beyond the distal tip of the core wire, the tip extension being dimensioned with respect to the core wire and helical coil such that when the tip extension engages the inner surface of the helical coil, the extension will deform in a manner that resists the tip of the core wire from protruding between a pair of adjacent coils.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
136 words
A guidewire as defined in claim 15 wherein the helical coil, guidewire and polymeric tip element are dimensioned to be in the following proportions: said helical coil being formed from wire approximately 0.007" in diameter and being wound into a coil having an outer diameter of about 0.035" to about 0.038"; the core wire being formed from stainless steel and having a diameter along most of its length of approximately 0.016" to 0.018" and tapering, at its distal tip to a diameter of the order of 0.010"; the sleeve being between about 1 cm to 3 cm long and having a wall thickness of the order of 0.003", the distal tip of the extension being narrowed to about 0.008" in diameter, the length of the tip extension being between about 0.5 mm to about 2 mm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A guidewire as defined in any of claims 1-5, 15 or 16 further comprising: the helical coil having a preformed curved tip at its distal end.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A guidewire as defined in any of claims 1-5, 15 or 16 further comprising: the helical coil having a straight tip at its distal end.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
A guidewire as defined in claim 17 further comprising the polymeric element including a proximal portion that extends over and covers a distal portion of the distal end of the core wire.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A guidewire as defined in claim 18 further comprising the polymeric element including a proximal portion that extends over end covers a distal portion of the distal end of the core wire.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
A movable core guidewire as defined in claim 9 wherein the polymeric element comprises a tube heat shrunk onto the distal end of the core wire, the tubular tip extension comprising the distal tip of the heat shrunk tube.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
A movable core guidewire as defined in claim 11 wherein the polymeric element comprises a tube heat shrunk onto the distal tip of the core wire.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
A movable core guidewire as defined in claim 21 wherein the tip extension is necked down to a smaller outer diameter than the portion of the polymeric element that is disposed on the distal tip of the core wire.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
A movable core guidewire as defined in claim 22 wherein the tip extension is necked down to a smaller outer diameter than the portion of the polymeric element that is disposed on the distal tip of the core wire.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a method for guiding a catheter to a selected site in the body, the improvement comprising: advancing the catheter over a guidewire as claimed in claims 1, 2 15 or 16.