Patent US5060660A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5060660A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steerable extendable guidewire with adjustable tip
Assignee: Medtronic Vascular Inc
•
Filing: 1990-02-28
•
Granted: 1991-10-29
•
Expires: 2010-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A small diameter steerable guidewire for cardiovascular catheterization procedures is provided with a means by which the curvature at the distal tip of the guidewire can be adjustable by control applied at the proximal end of the guidewire whereby the curve at the distal end of the guidewire can be adjusted without requiring removal of the guidewire from the patient. The proximal end of the guidewire is configured so that it can be attached to a guidewire extension so as to facilitate catheter exchanges.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A. Gambale
- 👤 James S. Hunter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:05
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0144; A61M25/0147; A61M25/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A steerable guidewire comprising: an elongate solid walled tubular shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; an elongate flexible distal segment connected to and extending distally from the shaft, the distal segment being flexible; a pull wire extending through the tubular shaft and into the flexible distal segment, the distal end of the pull wire being connected to the distal portion of the flexible segment in a manner such that when tension is applied to the pull wire, the distal end of the flexible distal segment will assume a curved configuration; the shaft including a flexible stretchable tubular segment at a proximal portion distally of the proximal end of the shaft; the pull wire extending through the flexible stretchable tubular segment and being attached to the shaft proximally of the flexible segment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A steerable guidewire comprising: an elongate solid walled tubular shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; an elongate flexible distal segment connected to and extending distally from the shaft, the distal segment being flexible; a pull wire extending through the tubular shaft and into the flexible distal segment, the distal end of the pull wire being connected to the distal portion of the flexible segment in a manner such that when tension is applied to the pull wire, the distal end of the flexible distal segment will assume a curved configuration; the shaft including a flexible stretchable tubular segment at a proximal portion distally of the proximal end of the shaft; the pull wire extending through the flexible stretchable tubular segment and being attached to the shaft proximally of the flexible segment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A guidewire as defined in claim 1 wherein a portion of the shaft proximally of the flexible stretchable tubular segment comprises connector means for connection to an end of a guidewire extension.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A guidewire as defined in claim 2 wherein said connector means comprises: an elongate tubular socket attached to and extending proximally of the flexible stretchable segment, the socket being adapted to receive a connector element of the guidewire extension.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A steerable guidewire as defined in any of claims 2 or 3 wherein the flexible stretchable tubular segment is formed from an elastomeric material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A steerable guidewire as defined in any of claims 2 or 3 further comprising means detachably connectible with the proximal portion of the shaft for effecting stretching of the tubular segment and causing a tension to be applied by the pull wire in response to bending of the flexible stretchable tubular segment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A steerable guidewire as defined in claim 1 wherein the shaft of the guidewire includes an elongate tubular element attached to the proximal end of the flexible stretchable tubular segment and having an open proximal end thereby to define a socket to receive a guidewire extension.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A steerable guidewire as defined in claim 1 wherein the flexible stretchable tubular segment is formed form an elastomeric material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A steerable guidewire as defined in claim 7 wherein the shaft of the guidewire includes an elongate tubular element attached to the proximal end of the flexible stretchable tubular segment and having an open proximal end thereby to define a socket to receive a guidewire extension.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A steerable guidewire as defined in claim 1 further comprising means detachably connectible with the proximal portion of the shaft for effecting stretching of the tubular segment and causing a tension to be applied by the pull wire in response to bending of the flexible stretchable tubular segment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
A guidewire as defined in claim 9 wherein the detachably connectible means comprises an elongate flexible sleeve having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinally extending bore laterally displaced from the axis, the bore being adapted to receive the guidewire and means for detachably receiving the sleeve to the guidewire at opposite ends of the flexible stretchable tubular segment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A steerable guidewire as defined in claim 9 wherein the shaft of the guidewire includes an elongate tubular element attached to the proximal end of the flexible stretchable tubular segment and having an open proximal end thereby to define a socket to receive a guidewire extension.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A guidewire as defined in claim 10 further comprising means for retaining the sleeve in a bent configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
A steerable guidewire as defined in claim 10 wherein the shaft of the guidewire includes an elongate tubular element attached to the proximal end of the flexible stretchable tubular segment and having an open proximal end thereby to define a socket to receive a guidewire extension.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A guidewire as defined in claim 12 wherein the means for retaining the sleeve in the bent configuration comprises a longitudinally extending malleable element disposed within the sleeve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A steerable guidewire as defined in claim 12 wherein the shaft of the guidewire includes an elongate tubular element attached to the proximal end of the flexible stretchable tubular segment and having an open proximal end thereby to define a socket to receive a guidewire extension.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
A steerable guidewire as defined in claim 14 wherein the shaft of the guidewire includes an elongate tubular element attached to the proximal end of the flexible stretchable tubular segment and having an open proximal end thereby to define a socket to receive a guidewire extension.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A guidewire as defined in claim 16 wherein the proximal end of the pull wire is attached to the elongated tubular member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
151 words
A steerable guidewire comprising: an elongate solid walled tubular shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; an elongate flexible distal segment connected to and extending distally from the shaft, the distal segment being flexible; a pull wire extending through the tubular shaft and into the flexible distal segment, the distal end of the pull wire being connected to the distal portion of the flexible segment in a manner such that when tension is applied to the pull wire, the distal end of the flexible distal segment will assume a curved configuration; the shaft including a flexible stretchable tubular segment at a proximal portion distally of the proximal end of the shaft, the flexible stretchable tubular segment having a proximal end and a distal end; the pull wire extending through the flexible stretchable tubular segment and being anchored with respect to the proximal end of the flexible stretchable tubular segment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
151 words
A steerable guidewire comprising: an elongate solid walled tubular shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; an elongate flexible distal segment connected to and extending distally from the shaft, the distal segment being flexible; a pull wire extending through the tubular shaft and into the flexible distal segment, the distal end of the pull wire being connected to the distal portion of the flexible segment in a manner such that when tension is applied to the pull wire, the distal end of the flexible distal segment will assume a curved configuration; the shaft including a flexible stretchable tubular segment at a proximal portion distally of the proximal end of the shaft, the flexible stretchable tubular segment having a proximal end and a distal end; the pull wire extending through the flexible stretchable tubular segment and being anchored with respect to the proximal end of the flexible stretchable tubular segment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A guidewire as defined in claim 18 wherein the pull wire is anchored at the proximal end of the flexible stretchable tubular segment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4545390A
Cited
US4456017A
Cited
US4582181A
Cited
US4543090A
Cited
US4573470A
Cited
US4650467A
Cited
US4732163A
Cited
US4734093A
Cited
US4721117A
Cited
US4798598A
Cited
US4719924A
Cited
US4815478A
Cited
US4799496A
Cited
US4827941A
Cited
US4884579A
Cited
US4940062A
Cited
US4886067A
Cited
US4921482A
Cited
US4928669A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-28 | 1995-04-29 | 1995-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-28 | 1999-04-29 | 1999-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-28 | 2003-04-29 | 2003-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |