US5984877A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Guide wire marker technique and coil spring marker technique
Assignee: Lake Region Manufacturing Inc
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Filing: 1991-02-05
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Granted: 1999-11-16
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Expires: 2011-02-05
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method of providing radiopaque marking for a coil spring. The coil spring will typically be used for medical applications within the cardiovascular system or other region wherein the assistance of a spring guide wire is necessary or desirable. Likely applications may include guide wires, angioplasty catheters, or infusion catheters. The basic spring guide wire is formed of a multifilar (e.g. quadrifilar) structure. At least one of the wires within the quadrifilar structure is drawn from a highly radiopaque material, such as platinum or a platinum alloy. The remaining wires are of a convenient base material such as stainless steel. The resulting quadrifilar structure will provide a degree of radiopacity over its length with one of four strands being highly visible under fluoroscopic energy. Various points along the spring guide wire may be further distinctively marked by changing the number of strands within the multifilar structure. One platinum wire within a trifilar structure is more visible fluoroscopically than in a quadrifilar structure. Similarly, the single platinum wire becomes correspondingly even more visible in bifilar and unifilar structures. These transitions are easily implemented in the coil winding process through the simple termination of one or more of the wires of the base material with a corresponding change in winding pitch of the remaining wire(s). The result is a marking of various points along the spring guide wire without the addition of any stiffness or change in handling characteristics.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph F. Fleischhacker, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/09; A61M2025/09058; A61M2025/09083; A61M2025/09091; A61M2025/09166; A61M2025/09191
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A guide wire having a multi filar coil with a plurality of separate wire strands, comprising: a. at least one of said plurality of separate wire strands drawn of a radiopaque material; and, b. at least two other of said plurality of separate wire strands of a non-radiopaque material: said plurality of wire strands being wound together in multifilar fashion such that said guide wire exhibits at least three different intensities of radiopacity along its length.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A guide wire having a multi filar coil with a plurality of separate wire strands, comprising: a. at least one of said plurality of separate wire strands drawn of a radiopaque material; and, b. at least two other of said plurality of separate wire strands of a non-radiopaque material: said plurality of wire strands being wound together in multifilar fashion such that said guide wire exhibits at least three different intensities of radiopacity along its length.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A guide wire according to claim 1 wherein said at least one of said plurality of separate wire strands drawn of said radiopaque material is longer than one of said at least two other of said plurality of separate wire strands of said material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A guide wire according to claim 2 wherein said multifilar coil has a constant winding angle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A guide wire comprising: a. a first coil of a radiopaque material having a proximal end and a distal end; and, b. second and third coils of a non-radiopaque alloy material having proximal ends and distal ends wound in multifilar fashion with respect to said first coil such that said guide wire exhibits at least three different intensities of radiopacity along its length.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
A guide wire comprising: a. a first coil of a radiopaque material having a proximal end and a distal end; and, b. second and third coils of a non-radiopaque alloy material having proximal ends and distal ends wound in multifilar fashion with respect to said first coil such that said guide wire exhibits at least three different intensities of radiopacity along its length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A guide wire according to claim 4 wherein said first coil is longer than said second coil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A guide wire according to claim 5 wherein said proximal end of said first coil is adjacent said proximal end of said second coil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A guide wire according to claim 6 wherein said first coil is wound at a different pitch distal to said distal end of a said second coil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A guide wire according to claim 7 wherein said second coil pitch is of a pitch sufficient to maintain the same coil spacing proximal and distal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
A guide wire including a multifilar coil with a plurality of separate wire strands comprising: a. at least one of said plurality of separate wire strands drawn of radiopaque material; and, b. at least two other of said plurality of separate wire strands of a non-radiopaque alloy wire strand material; said plurality of wire strands being wound together in multifilar fashion such that said guide wire exhibits at least three different intensities of radiopacity along its length.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
A guide wire including a multifilar coil with a plurality of separate wire strands comprising: a. at least one of said plurality of separate wire strands drawn of radiopaque material; and, b. at least two other of said plurality of separate wire strands of a non-radiopaque alloy wire strand material; said plurality of wire strands being wound together in multifilar fashion such that said guide wire exhibits at least three different intensities of radiopacity along its length.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
A guide wire with a platinum tracer and an integral distal spring comprising: a. main body of coil wound with multiple filars and including at least one tracer strand of a platinum alloy; and, b. a distal end including platinum strands of variable spacing or variable pitch and secured to a distal end of said main body; said main body of coil being wound such that said guide wire exhibits at least three different intensities of radiopacity along its length.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
A guide wire with a platinum tracer and an integral distal spring comprising: a. main body of coil wound with multiple filars and including at least one tracer strand of a platinum alloy; and, b. a distal end including platinum strands of variable spacing or variable pitch and secured to a distal end of said main body; said main body of coil being wound such that said guide wire exhibits at least three different intensities of radiopacity along its length.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The guide wire of claim 10 including means terminating said multiple filars before a distal tip.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The guide wire of claim 10 including means terminating said multiple filars before a distal tip and means securing said terminating means to said core wire.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
A guide wire having various degrees of radiopacity, comprising: a. a first guide wire portion comprising a strand of radiopaque material and three strands of non-radiopaque material wound in a multifilar fashion; b. a second guide wire portion comprising a strand of radiopaque material and two strands of non-radiopaque material wound in a multifilar fashion; and, c. a third guide wire portion comprising a strand of radiopaque material and a strand of non-radiopaque material wound in a multifilar fashion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
79 words
A guide wire having various degrees of radiopacity, comprising: a. a first guide wire portion comprising a strand of radiopaque material and three strands of non-radiopaque material wound in a multifilar fashion; b. a second guide wire portion comprising a strand of radiopaque material and two strands of non-radiopaque material wound in a multifilar fashion; and, c. a third guide wire portion comprising a strand of radiopaque material and a strand of non-radiopaque material wound in a multifilar fashion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The guide wire of claim 13, further comprising a fourth guide wire portion comprising a strand of radiopaque material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The guide wire of claim 13 having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said first guide wire portion is at said proximal end, and said second and third guide wire portions are increasingly distal to said proximal end.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The guide wire of claim 13 wherein said first guide wire portion exhibits a weaker fluoroscopic trace relative to said second guide wire portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The guide wire of claim 13 wherein said second guide wire portion exhibits a weaker fluoroscopic trace relative to said third guide wire portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The guide wire of claim 14, wherein said third guide wire portion exhibits a weaker fluoroscopic trace relative to said fourth guide wire portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The guide wire of claim 13, wherein said radiopaque material comprises platinum.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The guide wire of claim 13, wherein said non-radiopaque material comprises stainless steel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
93 words
A guide wire having various degrees of radiopacity, comprising a. an outer coil comprising: a first outer coil portion comprising a strand of radiopaque material and three strands of non-radiopaque material wound in a multifilar fashion; a second outer coil portion comprising a strand of radiopaque material and two strands of non-radiopaque material wound in a multifilar fashion; and a third outer coil portion comprising a strand of radiopaque material and a strand of non-radiopaque material wound in a multifilar fashion; and b. an inner coil around which said outer coil is wound.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
93 words
A guide wire having various degrees of radiopacity, comprising a. an outer coil comprising: a first outer coil portion comprising a strand of radiopaque material and three strands of non-radiopaque material wound in a multifilar fashion; a second outer coil portion comprising a strand of radiopaque material and two strands of non-radiopaque material wound in a multifilar fashion; and a third outer coil portion comprising a strand of radiopaque material and a strand of non-radiopaque material wound in a multifilar fashion; and b. an inner coil around which said outer coil is wound.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The guide wire of claim 21, wherein said inner coils is quadrifilar.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The guide wire of claim 21, wherein said inner coil comprises at least one strand of radiopaque material.
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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) | 2002-11-15 | 2003-05-17 | 2003-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-15 | 2007-05-17 | 2007-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-15 | 2011-05-17 | 2011-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |