Intraluminal device with lubricious surface
US6390992B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 27, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 21, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 27, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61M2025/09175
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
This invention comprises a guidewire with a tenacious lubricious coating on its surface comprising a finely divided lubricious particulate. The coatings of this invention have a thickness of not more than about 0.00002 inch, a coefficient of friction of not more than about 0.030 and a hardness not less than about 1.0 Mohs. Preferably, the surface coating comprises a monomolecular layer of particulate tungsten disulfide. The guidewire of this invention incorporates an improved distal tip configuration comprising a flexible elongate core member which has at least one tapered section at its distal extremity and a flattened distal portion. The distal portion has two or more flattened regions having cross-sectional areas which decrease in the distal direction. A flexible helical coil is attached to the core member and comprises three or more distinct regions, each having increasing coil spacing in the distal direction. Preferably, the entire length of the guidewire proximal to the helical coil has the lubricious particulate surface coating of the invention.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.