US5037391A — Steerable angioplasty device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 78 words

A steerable guidewire for percutaneous transluminal insertion into the coronary vascular system and controlled negotiation of branches and turns therein, comprising: an axially elongate flexible housing having distal and proximate ends, said distal end being provided with a resilient tip; a flexible steering region displaced intermediate said distal and proximate ends of said housing; and at least one deflection wire for causing lateral deflection of said steering region upon axial displacement of said deflection wire along said housing.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 78 words

A steerable guidewire for percutaneous transluminal insertion into the coronary vascular system and controlled negotiation of branches and turns therein, comprising: an axially elongate flexible housing having distal and proximate ends, said distal end being provided with a resilient tip; a flexible steering region displaced intermediate said distal and proximate ends of said housing; and at least one deflection wire for causing lateral deflection of said steering region upon axial displacement of said deflection wire along said housing.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

The device of claim 1 wherein said steering region comprises a different material than the remainder of said body.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 12 words

The device of claim 1, wherein said body comprises a wound coil.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The device of claim 3, wherein said coil has fewer revolutions per unit of axial distance along said body in said steering region.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

The device of claim 1, wherein said body has a diameter less than 0.125 inches.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The device of claim 5, wherein said body has a diameter between 0.014 inches and 0.018 inches.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 11 words

The device of claim 1, comprising at least three deflection wires.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 81 words

A steering mechanism for a steerable guidewire having a flexible steering region, comprising: a steering post secured to said steering region in a manner that substantially prevents axial displacement thereof yet permits lateral deflection of the axis of said steering post away from the axis of said steerable guidewire; at least one deflection wire secured to said steering post; and a control device for axially displacing said deflection wires so as to laterally displace said steering post and said steering region.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 81 words

A steering mechanism for a steerable guidewire having a flexible steering region, comprising: a steering post secured to said steering region in a manner that substantially prevents axial displacement thereof yet permits lateral deflection of the axis of said steering post away from the axis of said steerable guidewire; at least one deflection wire secured to said steering post; and a control device for axially displacing said deflection wires so as to laterally displace said steering post and said steering region.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 48 words

The steering mechanism of claim 8, wherein said steering post has proximal and distal ends and wherein said deflection wire has proximal and distal ends and the distal end of said deflection wire is secured at a point intermediate said proximal and distal ends of said steering post.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The steering mechanism of claim 8, wherein said control device comprises a pivotably mountable circular plate secured to said deflection wires.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 33 words

The steering mechanism of claim 8, wherein said control device comprises a single lever secured to said deflection wires, said lever being displaceable to any position throughout a nearly hemispherical range of motion.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 29 words

The steering mechanism of claim 8, wherein said control device is provided with a stop to prevent bending of said steering post or said guidewire beyond their elastic limits.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 116 words

A method of steering a guidewire of the type having at least one deflection wire for steering said guidewire and an elongate flexible shaft with a proximal and a distal end, said distal end being provided with a tip, through branches and turns in the coronary vascular system, comprising: introducing said guidewire into the coronary vascular system; advancing said guidewire through the coronary vascular system until a branch or a turn is encountered; steering said tip of said guidewire into said turn by axial displacement of said deflection wires and advancing said guidewire through said turn; straightening said guidewire by axial displacement of said deflection wire; and further advancing said guidewire through the coronary vascular system.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 116 words

A method of steering a guidewire of the type having at least one deflection wire for steering said guidewire and an elongate flexible shaft with a proximal and a distal end, said distal end being provided with a tip, through branches and turns in the coronary vascular system, comprising: introducing said guidewire into the coronary vascular system; advancing said guidewire through the coronary vascular system until a branch or a turn is encountered; steering said tip of said guidewire into said turn by axial displacement of said deflection wires and advancing said guidewire through said turn; straightening said guidewire by axial displacement of said deflection wire; and further advancing said guidewire through the coronary vascular system.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 13, wherein said guidewire has more than one deflection wire and wherein the straightening step comprises axial displacement of a different deflection wire than the deflection wire axially displaced in the steering step.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 13, wherein said guidewire has at least three deflection wires and wherein axial movement of any one of said deflection wires in a proximal direction causes lateral deflection of said tip and allows a full 360° range of motion about the axis of said flexible shaft.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 60 words

A steerable guidewire, comprising: an elongate flexible housing having a diameter less than 0.125 inches and having proximal and distal ends and a central lumen extending therebetween, the distal end of said housing being flexible in a lateral direction; and at least two deflection wires extending along the housing for causing lateral deflection of said distal end of said housing.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 60 words

A steerable guidewire, comprising: an elongate flexible housing having a diameter less than 0.125 inches and having proximal and distal ends and a central lumen extending therebetween, the distal end of said housing being flexible in a lateral direction; and at least two deflection wires extending along the housing for causing lateral deflection of said distal end of said housing.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 45 words

A steerable guidewire as in claim 16, additionally comprising a resilient tip on the distal end of said housing, said tip being movable between a first position on the axis of said housing and a second position displaced radially from the axis of said housing.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 19 words

A steerable guidewire as in claim 16, wherein said housing has a diameter between 0.014 inches and 0.018 inches.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 71 words

A steerable device for controlled negotiation through branches and turns, comprising: an axially elongate body having distal and proximal ends and a central lumen therebetween; a flexible steering region disposed intermediate said distal and proximal ends of said body; a deflecting means within said central lumen; and at least one deflection wire secured to said deflecting means for causing deflection of said steering region upon axial displacement of said deflection wire.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 71 words

A steerable device for controlled negotiation through branches and turns, comprising: an axially elongate body having distal and proximal ends and a central lumen therebetween; a flexible steering region disposed intermediate said distal and proximal ends of said body; a deflecting means within said central lumen; and at least one deflection wire secured to said deflecting means for causing deflection of said steering region upon axial displacement of said deflection wire.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 49 words

A guidewire as in claim 19, wherein there are at least three deflection wires so that through combinations of axial displacement of said deflection wires, said steering region is caused to deflect laterally and rotate throughout a full 360° range of motion about the axis of said flexible shaft.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 14 words

A guidewire as in claim 19, wherein said deflecting means is a steering post.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 25 words

A guidewire as in claim 19, additionally comprising a support for said deflecting means wherein said deflecting means is in pivotable contact with said support.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-08-05	1995-02-04	1995-08-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-08-05	1999-02-04	1999-08-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-08-05	2003-02-04	2003-08-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Steerable angioplasty device

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