US5673707A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Enhanced performance guidewire
Assignee: Boston Scientific Corp
•
Filing: 1994-09-23
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Granted: 1997-10-07
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Expires: 2014-09-23
Abstract
Abstract The present invention represents an improved guidewire for use in medical applications designed to cross lesions/stenoses within body cavities and/or blood vessels. The guidewire is provided with a main elongated section of uniform diameter, a tapered section of reduced diameter distal to said main section, and an elongated spring safety core section distal to said tapered section and having a distal end which comprises a short section of enlarged diameter relative to the diameter of the spring core safety section and which forms a blunted tip at the distal end of the guidewire.
Inventors
- 👤 V. Chandru Chandrasekaran
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/09; A61M2025/09058; A61M2025/09075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A guidewire for use in medical applications, which comprises: a main elongated section of uniform diameter, a tapered section of reduced diameter distal to said main section, a separate elongated spring safety core section welded to the end of said tapered section and which comprises a short section of uniform enlarged diameter relative to the diameter of the spring core safety section and which forms a blunted tip at the distal end of the guidewire, and a spring surrounding the elongated safety core section, said spring having a distal end joined to the enlarged tip at a weld and a proximal end joined to the tapered section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A guidewire for use in medical applications, which comprises: a main elongated section of uniform diameter, a tapered section of reduced diameter distal to said main section, a separate elongated spring safety core section welded to the end of said tapered section and which comprises a short section of uniform enlarged diameter relative to the diameter of the spring core safety section and which forms a blunted tip at the distal end of the guidewire, and a spring surrounding the elongated safety core section, said spring having a distal end joined to the enlarged tip at a weld and a proximal end joined to the tapered section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the main elongated section of the guidewire has a diameter of approximately 0.009 inches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the tapered section is approximately 5 inches long.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the spring safety core section is from about 0.0010 to 0.0025 inches in diameter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the spring safety core section proximal to the enlarged distal end has a flat, ribbon-like shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the guidewire terminates at the distal end in a cylindrical blunt section having an overall length of approximately 0.025 to 0.100 inches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the distal end of the spring is welded to the distal end of the enlarged tip section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the spring is welded or soldered to the tapered section.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the elongated safety core section terminates in a short length of stainless steel hypo tube which is oriented coaxially over the distal end of the safety core section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A guidewire according to claim 9, wherein the elongated safety core section is surrounded by a spring joined to the distal end of the stainless steel hypo tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the elongated safety core section has attached thereto a short section of thin stainless steel ribbon stock.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A guidewire according to claim 11, wherein the elongated safety core section is surrounded by a spring joined to the distal end of the thin stainless steel ribbon stock.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the elongated safety core section is attached to the distal end of the enlarged tapered section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A guidewire according to claim 1, wherein the enlarged tapered section has an overall length of from about 0.050 to 0.100 inches and enlarges to a diameter of from about 0.0025 to 0.005.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
A guidewire according to claim 1 which also comprises a reduced diameter section distal to a main elongated section and proximal to the tapered section, which reduced section is of uniform cross-section and which diameter is smaller than the diameter of the main elongated section of the guidewire.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A guidewire according to claim 15, wherein the reduced section has a uniform cylindrical cross section having a diameter of from about 0.006 to 0.008 inches.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A guidewire according to claim 15, wherein the reduced section is from about 10 to 12 inches in length.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A guidewire according to claim 15, wherein the reduced section has an overall length of approximately 12 inches and is comprised of two or more cylindrical or tapered members of increasingly smaller diameter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-10-06 | 2001-04-07 | 2001-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-06 | 2005-04-07 | 2005-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-06 | 2009-04-07 | 2009-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |