Guide wire

Claim 2

A guide wire for a catheter comprising: a super-elastic core member having a proximal section, a distal section smaller in diameter than said proximal section and an intermediate section between said proximal section and said distal section, the distal section of said core member having an outer diameter that is substantially uniform or that becomes gradually smaller toward a distal end of the core member, said distal section having an outer peripheral surface; a shape deformable and deformed shape retaining X-ray opaque metal coil attached to said distal section of said core member, said metal coil being in tight contact with the outer peripheral surface of said distal section of said core member along the entire length of the metal coil, said metal coil having an outer surface; a synthetic resin envelope which covers said core member and said X-ray opaque metal coil to form a substantially smooth outside surface, the synthetic resin envelope contacting the outer surface of the metal coil, including filling up areas along the outer surface of the metal coil between adjacent turns of the metal coil, to restrict movement of the metal coil; and a hydrophilic lubricative layer which covers said outside surface of said synthetic resin envelope.

Claim 3

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein said super-elastic core member is made of Ni--Ti alloy.

Claim 4

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein said intermediate section is more flexible than said proximal section, and said distal section is more flexible tan said intermediate section.

Claim 5

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein said intermediate section becomes gradually smaller in outer diameter toward said distal end.

Claim 6

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein said intermediate section includes a first intermediate section which becomes smaller in diameter along a first taper and a second intermediate section which becomes smaller in diameter along a second taper that is greater than said first taper.

Claim 7

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein said synthetic resin envelope contains an X-ray opaque substance.

Claim 8

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein said wire coil includes oppositely located first and second ends, said first end of said coil being located closer to the distal end of the core member than the second end, the first end of said coil being secured to said super-elastic core member.

Claim 9

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein said wire coil includes oppositely located first and second ends, said first end of said coil being located closer to the distal end of the core member than the second end, the second end of said coil being secured to said super-elastic core member.

Claim 10

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein said wire coil includes oppositely located first and second ends, said first end of said coil being located closer to the distal end of the core member than the second end, wherein an intermediate portion of said coil located between said first and second ends is not secured to said super-elastic core member.

Claim 11

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein a front end and a rear end of said coil are secured to said super-elastic core member.

Claim 12

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein said hydrophilic lubricative layer is fixed to said outside surface of said synthetic resin envelope.

Claim 13

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein said hydrophilic lubricative layer covers said outside surface of said synthetic resin envelope except for a proximal portion of said guide wire.

Claim 14

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein said guide wire has an approximately uniform outer diameter from a distal end to a proximal end.

Claim 15

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein a length of said metal coil in the direction of an axis is within a range of 10 to 40 mm.

Claim 16

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein a material for said coil has a Vickers Hardness preferably within a range of 90 to 300.

Claim 17

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein said coil has a narrow spiral space.

Claim 18

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein said coil is made of a wire having oppositely located ends that are cut at an approximately right angle with the center axis of said wire.

Claim 19

The guide wire of claim 9, wherein said coil has a narrow spiral space.

Claim 20

The guide wire of claim 10, wherein said coil is made of a wire having oppositely located ends that are cut at an approximately right angle with the center axis of said wire.

Claim 21

The guide wire of claim 9, wherein said coil has oppositely located first and second ends that are secured to said super-elastic core member and said coil has a narrow spiral space, said first end of said coil being located closer to the distal end of the core member than the second end of the coil, said first and second ends of the coil being secured to said super-elastic core member, an intermediate portion of said coil located between said first and second ends being not secured to said super-elastic core member.

Claim 22

The guide wire of claim 18, wherein said coil is made of a wire having oppositely located ends that are cut at an approximately right angle with the center axis of said wire.

Claim 23

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein said coil is made of a material having a Vickers Hardness within the range of 90 to 300.

Claim 24

The guide wire of claim 1, wherein said coil is made of an alloy of platinum and iridium.

Claim 25

A guide wire for a catheter comprising: a super-elastic core member having a proximal section, a distal section smaller in diameter than said proximal section and an intermediate section between said proximal section and said distal section, said distal section having an outer peripheral surface; an X-ray opaque metal coil attached to said distal section of said core member, said metal coil being in tight contact with the outer peripheral surface of said distal section along the entire length of the metal coil, said metal coil attached to said distal section having characteristics which allow said metal coil to be repeatedly reshaped and to retain different shapes, said metal coil having an outer surface; a synthetic resin envelope which covers said core member and said X-ray opaque metal coil to form a substantially smooth outside surface, the synthetic resin envelope contacting the outer surface of the metal coil, including filling up areas along the outer surface of the metal coil between adjacent turns of the metal coil, to restrict movement of the metal coil; and a hydrophilic lubricative layer which covers said outside surface of said synthetic resin envelope.

Claim 26

A guide wire for a catheter comprising: a super-elastic core member having a proximal section, a distal section smaller in diameter than said proximal section and an intermediate section between said proximal section and said distal section, said distal section having an outer peripheral surface; an X-ray opaque metal coil attached to said distal section of said core member, said metal coil being in tight contact with the outer peripheral surface of said distal section along the entire length of the metal coil, said metal coil attached to said distal section having characteristics which allow said metal coil to be repeatedly reshaped and to retain different shapes, said metal coil having an outer surface; a synthetic resin envelope which covers said core member and said X-ray opaque metal coil to form a substantially smooth outside surface, the synthetic resin envelope contacting the outer surface of the metal coil, including filling up areas along the outer surface of the metal coil between adjacent turns of the metal coil, to restrict movement of the metal coil; and a hydrophilic lubricative layer which covers said outside surface of said synthetic resin envelope.

Claim 27

The guide wire of claim 24, wherein said metal coil possesses a Vickers Hardness of 90-300.

Claim 28

A guide wire for a catheter comprising: a core member having a proximal section, a distal section smaller in diameter than said proximal section and an intermediate section between said proximal section and said distal section, the distal section of said core member having an outer diameter that is substantially uniform or that becomes gradually smaller toward a distal end of the core member, the distal section of the core member being made of a super-elastic material; a shape deformable and deformed shape retaining X-ray opaque metal coil attached to said distal section of said core member, said metal coil being in tight contact with an outer surface of said distal section of said core member along the entire longitudinal extent of the metal coil, said metal coil having a front end and a rear end and possessing an outer surface; and a synthetic resin envelope which covers said core member and said x-ray opaque metal coil to form a substantially smooth outside surface, a front end of the synthetic resin envelope being positioned at the distal side from the front end of the metal coil and a rear end of the synthetic resin envelope being positioned at the proximal side from the rear end of the metal coil, the synthetic resin envelope contacting the outer surface of the metal coil, including filling up areas along the outer surface of the metal coil between adjacent turns of the metal coil, to restrict movement of the metal coil.

Claim 29

A guide wire for a catheter comprising: a core member having a proximal section, a distal section smaller in diameter than said proximal section and an intermediate section between said proximal section and said distal section, the distal section of said core member having an outer diameter that is substantially uniform or that becomes gradually smaller toward a distal end of the core member, the distal section of the core member being made of a super-elastic material; a shape deformable and deformed shape retaining X-ray opaque metal coil attached to said distal section of said core member, said metal coil being in tight contact with an outer surface of said distal section of said core member along the entire longitudinal extent of the metal coil, said metal coil having a front end and a rear end and possessing an outer surface; and a synthetic resin envelope which covers said core member and said x-ray opaque metal coil to form a substantially smooth outside surface, a front end of the synthetic resin envelope being positioned at the distal side from the front end of the metal coil and a rear end of the synthetic resin envelope being positioned at the proximal side from the rear end of the metal coil, the synthetic resin envelope contacting the outer surface of the metal coil, including filling up areas along the outer surface of the metal coil between adjacent turns of the metal coil, to restrict movement of the metal coil.

Claim 30

A guide wire for a catheter comprising: a super-elastic core member having a proximal section, a distal section smaller in diameter than said proximal section and an intermediate section between said proximal section and said distal section, the distal section of said core member having an outer diameter that is substantially uniform or that becomes gradually smaller toward a distal end of the core member, said core member having a stress-strain characteristic obtained by performing heat treatment at a temperature of 450° to 550° C. for a time of about 30 seconds to 2 minutes; a shape deformable and deformed shape retaining X-ray opaque metal coil attached to said distal section of said core member, said metal coil being in tight contact with an outer surface of said distal section of said core member along the entire longitudinal extent of the metal coil, said metal coil possessing an outer surface and being made of a material having a Vickers Hardness within the range of 90 to 300; and a synthetic resin envelope which covers said core member and said X-ray opaque metal coil to form a substantially smooth outside surface, the synthetic resin envelope contacting the outer surface of the metal coil, including filling up areas along the outer surface of the metal coil between adjacent turns of the metal coil, to restrict movement of the metal coil.

Claim 31

A guide wire for a catheter comprising: a super-elastic core member having a proximal section, a distal section smaller in diameter than said proximal section and an intermediate section between said proximal section and said distal section, the distal section of said core member having an outer diameter that is substantially uniform or that becomes gradually smaller toward a distal end of the core member, said core member having a stress-strain characteristic obtained by performing heat treatment at a temperature of 450° to 550° C. for a time of about 30 seconds to 2 minutes; a shape deformable and deformed shape retaining X-ray opaque metal coil attached to said distal section of said core member, said metal coil being in tight contact with an outer surface of said distal section of said core member along the entire longitudinal extent of the metal coil, said metal coil possessing an outer surface and being made of a material having a Vickers Hardness within the range of 90 to 300; and a synthetic resin envelope which covers said core member and said X-ray opaque metal coil to form a substantially smooth outside surface, the synthetic resin envelope contacting the outer surface of the metal coil, including filling up areas along the outer surface of the metal coil between adjacent turns of the metal coil, to restrict movement of the metal coil.

Claim 32

The guide wire of claim 27, wherein said coil is made of an alloy of platinum and iridium.

Claim 33

The guide wire of claim 27, wherein said coil is made of an alloy of platinum within the range of 90% to 95% and iridium within the range of 10% to 5%.

Claim 34

A guide wire for a catheter comprising: a super-elastic core member having a proximal section, a distal section smaller in diameter than said proximal section and an intermediate section between said proximal section and said distal section, the distal section of said core member having an outer diameter that is substantially uniform or that becomes gradually smaller toward a distal end of the core member, the distal section of the core member having a physical property allowing the distal section of the core member to retain a shape upon being reshaped from around room temperature to body temperature; a shape deformable and deformed shape retaining X-ray opaque metal coil attached to said distal section of said core member, said metal coil being in tight contact with an outer surface of said distal section of said core member along the entire longitudinal extent of the metal coil, said metal coil possessing an outer surface and being made of an alloy having a Vickers Hardness within the range of 120 to 240; and a synthetic resin envelope which covers said core member and said X-ray opaque metal coil to form a substantially smooth outside surface, the synthetic resin envelope contacting the outer surface of the metal coil, including filling up areas along the outer surface of the metal coil between adjacent turns of the metal coil, to restrict movement of the metal coil.

Claim 35

A guide wire for a catheter comprising: a super-elastic core member having a proximal section, a distal section smaller in diameter than said proximal section and an intermediate section between said proximal section and said distal section, the distal section of said core member having an outer diameter that is substantially uniform or that becomes gradually smaller toward a distal end of the core member, the distal section of the core member having a physical property allowing the distal section of the core member to retain a shape upon being reshaped from around room temperature to body temperature; a shape deformable and deformed shape retaining X-ray opaque metal coil attached to said distal section of said core member, said metal coil being in tight contact with an outer surface of said distal section of said core member along the entire longitudinal extent of the metal coil, said metal coil possessing an outer surface and being made of an alloy having a Vickers Hardness within the range of 120 to 240; and a synthetic resin envelope which covers said core member and said X-ray opaque metal coil to form a substantially smooth outside surface, the synthetic resin envelope contacting the outer surface of the metal coil, including filling up areas along the outer surface of the metal coil between adjacent turns of the metal coil, to restrict movement of the metal coil.

Claim 36

The guide wire of claim 30, wherein said coil is made of an alloy of platinum and iridium.