Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A length of solid core wire for use in a catheter guide wire, said core wire/catheter guide wire together having particular use with a catheter: said length of core wire comprising an end portion and a remainder portion extending therefrom, said end portion comprising a Ni-Ti alloy characterized by pseudoelasticity at a temperature of about 37° C. and which exhibits plasticity at a temperature less than about 80° C., whereby said end portion can be readily deformed into a desired shape.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A length of solid core wire for use in a catheter guide wire, said core wire/catheter guide wire together having particular use with a catheter: said length of core wire comprising an end portion and a remainder portion extending therefrom, said end portion comprising a Ni-Ti alloy characterized by pseudoelasticity at a temperature of about 37° C. and which exhibits plasticity at a temperature less than about 80° C., whereby said end portion can be readily deformed into a desired shape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The solid core wire as claimed in claim 1, wherein said Ti-Ni alloy consists essentially of about 45.0 to 51.0 atomic percent Ni, about 0.5 to 5.0 atomic percent Fe and the balance Ti, and wherein said end portion is heat-treated at a temperature of about 400° to 500° C. following cold working of said alloy into said core wire in order to provide said pseudoelasticity and said plasticity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The solid core wire as claimed in claim 2, wherein said remainder portion is made of metallic alloy exhibiting elasticity but no pseudoelasticity and which is joined in end-to-end relationship to said end portion and thereby provide a single wire thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The solid core wire as claimed in claim 3, wherein said remainder portion is made of a Ni-Ti alloy comprised of about 51.0 atomic percent Ni and the balance Ti.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The solid core wire as claimed in claim 1, wherein said solid core wire is made of Ni-Ti alloy, said Ni-Ti alloy comprising about 50.3 to 52.0 atomic percent Ni and the balance Ti, and wherein said end portion is heat-treated at a temperature of about 700° C. or higher after cold working said alloy into said core wire and thereby provide it with said pseudoelasticity and said plasticity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The solid cold wire as claimed in claim 5, wherein said remainder portion is heat-treated at a temperature lower than about 400° C. following cold working of the alloy into said core wire, whereby said remainder portion of said core wire exhibits elasticity but no pseudoelasticity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A catheter guide wire comprising said solid core wire as defined in claim 1 and including a synthetic resin jacket covering said core wire.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
A length of solid core wire for use in a catheter guide wire, said core wire/catheter guide wire together having particular use with a catheter, said length of core wire comprising and end portion and a remainder portion extending therefrom, wherein said core wire is made of a shape memory alloy, wherein said end portion exhibits pseudoelasticity at a temperature of about 37° C., and wherein said remainder portion exhibits elasticity but no pseudoelasticity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
A length of solid core wire for use in a catheter guide wire, said core wire/catheter guide wire together having particular use with a catheter, said length of core wire comprising and end portion and a remainder portion extending therefrom, wherein said core wire is made of a shape memory alloy, wherein said end portion exhibits pseudoelasticity at a temperature of about 37° C., and wherein said remainder portion exhibits elasticity but no pseudoelasticity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
A solid core wire as claimed in claim 8, wherein said solid core wire comprises a discrete wire made of an alloy consisting essentially of about 50.3 to 52.0 atomic percent Ni and the balance titanium, and wherein said end portion is heat treated at a temperature of about 400° to 500° C. after cold working said alloy into the core wire and thereby provide it with pseudoelasticity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A solid core wire as claimed in claim 9, wherein said remainder portion is heat treated at a temperature less than 400° C. after cold working the alloy into the core wire and thereby provide it with elasticity and no pseudoelasticity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
82 words
The solid core wire as claimed in claim 8, wherein said core wire comprises a discrete wire made of an alloy consisting essentially of about 50.3 to 52.0 atomic percent Ni and the balance Ti, wherein said discrete core wire is heat-treated at a temperature of about 400° to 500° C., wherein said discrete wire is provided with coating of inorganic material at said remainder portion, and wherein said end portion exhibits pseudoelasticity and said remaining portion exhibits elasticity and no pseudoelasticity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The discrete solid core wire as claimed in claim 11, wherein said coating is selected from the group consisting nickel, stainless steel, silicon carbon and titanium nitride.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The discrete core wire as claimed in claim 11, wherein said coating is made of a metal alloy clad onto said discrete wire.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A catheter guide wire comprising a solid core wire as in claim 8, including a synthetic resin jacket covering said core wire.