Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
An intraluminal guidewire comprising: an elongate core wire having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end; a distal helical coil having a proximal end and a distal end and having a first degree of radiopacity, the distal end of the distal coil being fixedly attached to the distal end of the core wire; a proximal helical coil having a proximal end and a distal end and having a second degree of radiopacity different from the first degree of radiopacity, the proximal end of the proximal coil being fixedly attached to the core wire toward the distal end of the core wire, and the distal end of the proximal coil being proximally spaced from the proximal end of distal coil defining a longitudinal gap between the proximal and distal coils; a flexible polymer sleeve placed around the core wire, in the gap, longitudinally between the proximal end of the distal coil and the distal end of the proximal coil; and the sleeve having a third degree of radiopacity less than the first and second degrees of radiopacity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
An intraluminal guidewire comprising: an elongate core wire having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end and a distal end; a distal helical coil having a proximal end and a distal end and having a first degree of radiopacity, the distal end of the distal coil being fixedly attached to the distal end of the core wire; a proximal helical coil having a proximal end and a distal end and having a second degree of radiopacity different from the first degree of radiopacity, the proximal end of the proximal coil being fixedly attached to the core wire toward the distal end of the core wire, and the distal end of the proximal coil being proximally spaced from the proximal end of distal coil defining a longitudinal gap between the proximal and distal coils; a flexible polymer sleeve placed around the core wire, in the gap, longitudinally between the proximal end of the distal coil and the distal end of the proximal coil; and the sleeve having a third degree of radiopacity less than the first and second degrees of radiopacity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the third degree of radiopacity is such as to appear as a substantially dark spot when viewed through a fluoroscope.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A guidewire according to claim 2, wherein the spacer sleeve is made from POC.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A guidewire according to claim 2, wherein the proximal coil is made from stainless steel and the distal coil is made from gold or platinum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of solder bands connected to the core wire along he proximal coil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A guidewire according to claim 5, wherein the solder includes silver and tin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A guidewire according to claim 5, wherein the solder includes gold and tin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
In an intraluminal guidewire having an elongate core wire having a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of spaced helical coil means of differing radiopacity serially mounted thereon, the improvement comprising: spacer means for spacing the coils is mounted longitudinally between adjacent helical coils, the spacer means comprises a flexible sleeve mounted around the core wire and the adjacent helical coils are mounted to the core wire.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
In an intraluminal guidewire having an elongate core wire having a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of spaced helical coil means of differing radiopacity serially mounted thereon, the improvement comprising: spacer means for spacing the coils is mounted longitudinally between adjacent helical coils, the spacer means comprises a flexible sleeve mounted around the core wire and the adjacent helical coils are mounted to the core wire.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement of claim 8, wherein the spacer means comprises a material having a radiopacity differing from the radiopacity of each of the adjacent helical coils.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
The improvement of claim 9, wherein the material comprises POC.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement of claim 8, further comprising a flexible adhesive to attach the coils to the core wire.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement of claim 8 in which said flexible adhesive includes a UV curable adhesive.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A guidewire according to claim 8, further comprising a plurality of solder bands connected to the core wire along the proximal coil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A guidewire in accordance with claim 13, wherein the solder includes silver and tin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
A guidewire according to claim 13, wherein the solder includes gold and tin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
79 words
In a catheter guidewire including an elongate core wire having a longitudinal axis, proximal and distal ends and a plurality of spaced helical coils mounted in serial relation around said core wire and adapted to be serially connected between said core wire distal end and a point proximal of said distal end, the improvement comprising: flexible connection means for connecting said coils to said core wire; and flexible spacer means for spacing the coils mounted longitudinally between adjacent coils.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
In a catheter guidewire including an elongate core wire having a longitudinal axis, proximal and distal ends and a plurality of spaced helical coils mounted in serial relation around said core wire and adapted to be serially connected between said core wire distal end and a point proximal of said distal end, the improvement comprising: flexible connection means for connecting said coils to said core wire; and flexible spacer means for spacing the coils mounted longitudinally between adjacent coils.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement of claim 16 in which said flexible connection means comprises a flexible adhesive.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement of claim 17 which said flexible adhesive includes a UV curable adhesive.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
103 words
An intraluminal guidewire comprising: an elongate core wire having a proximal end and a distal end, and a reduced diameter portion proximate the distal end; a distal coil having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the coil being fixedly attached to the distal end of the core wire and the proximal end of the coil being fixedly attached to the core wire; and a proximal metallic tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the metallic sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the reduced diameter portion of the core wire proximal of, and proximate the coil.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
103 words
An intraluminal guidewire comprising: an elongate core wire having a proximal end and a distal end, and a reduced diameter portion proximate the distal end; a distal coil having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of the coil being fixedly attached to the distal end of the core wire and the proximal end of the coil being fixedly attached to the core wire; and a proximal metallic tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the metallic sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the reduced diameter portion of the core wire proximal of, and proximate the coil.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
An intraluminal guidewire in accordance with claim 19, further comprising a bridge tube, the bridge tube being disposed around the core wire at the distal end of the tube and the proximal end of the coil.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
An intraluminal guidewire in accordance with claim 20, wherein the distal end of the tube is fixedly attached to the core wire at the bridge tube.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
An intraluminal guidewire in accordance with claim 21, wherein the distal end of the tube and the proximal end of the coil are fixedly attached to the core wire at the bridge tube by a UV adhesive.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
An intraluminal guidewire in accordance with claim 21, wherein the distal end of the tube and the proximal end of the coil are fixedly attached to the core wire at the bridge tube by soldering.