Ultrasound imaging guidewire
US5546948A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 28, 1994 |
| Grant date | Aug 20, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 28, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2025/09175
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A medical guidewire has a substantially uniform small diameter throughout its length and incorporates means for lateral acoustic scanning, and the guidewire comprises a proximal connector, an extended main guidewire body portion, an axially elongated transition section, and a floppy tip portion, the main body portion comprises a stationary outer wall including means capable of transmitting torque and, within the outer wall, an elongated rotatable shaft with a distally positioned acoustic imaging transducer mounted thereon, the proximal connector is constructed to be attached to and detached from a drive device to enable a therapeutic device to be introduced over the guidewire, the connector has a stationary portion secured to the outer wall and an inner drive portion secured to the shaft, the floppy tip portion comprises an outer wire coil and a core rod which tapers from a relatively large diameter at a proximal joint with the outer wire coil to a floppy distal tip, and the elongated transition section serves to join the main body portion to the floppy tip section in a manner retaining substantially the same lateral stiffness as the main body portion and sufficient torquability to…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.