Patent · US Expired

Small-diameter superelastic wire guide

US5243996A · kind A · utility

340Cited by
21References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 3, 1992
Grant dateSep 14, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 3, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M2025/09175
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A small diameter wire guide for medical procedures. The wire guide includes a mandrel of metallic superelastic material, such as nitinol, having a diameter less than 0.020 inches and which completes its transformation to austenite at a temperature of about 14.degree. C. The mandrel has a constant diameter over a majority of its length and includes a number of tapered portions and reduced-diameter portions in its distal region. A flexible radiopaque platinum coil is attached at the distal region of the mandrel and coaxially surrounds a portion of the distal region. A smoothly rounded tip is attached to the distal tip of the mandrel and coil and serves to shield the distal end of the coil during the insertion procedure into the patient.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.