Polymer coated guidewire

US6673025B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Mark T. Richardson · Escondido, US
• David M. Anderson · Temecula, US
• Emmanuel C. Biagtan · Temecula, US
• Lawrence E. Brennan · Temecula, US
• David H. Burkett · Temecula, US
• Wayne E. Cornish · Fallbrook, US
• Robert C. Esselstein · Fallbrook, US
• James Jacobs · Mountain View, US
• Marc M. Jalisi · Temecula, US
• Daryush Mirzaee · Sunnyvale, US
• Olin Palmer · San Carlos, US
• John Schreiner · Hemet, US
• Kent C. B. Stalker · San Marcos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 16, 1999
• Grant date: Jan 6, 2004
• Expiry date: Nov 16, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61M2025/09175
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A guidewire or section thereof, that has a core member or the like with a plurality of contiguous tapered segments having taper angles that are configured to produce a linear change in stiffness over a longitudinal portion of the device. The device may also have a core section with a continuously changing taper angle to produce a curvilinear profile that is configured to produce a linear change in stiffness of the core over a longitudinal portion of the device. An embodiment has a plurality of radiopaque elements that may be intermittent, continuous or in the form of a helical ribbon for scaled measurement of intracorporeal structure under flouroscopic imaging. Another embodiment has at least one layer of polymer over the distal end of the device.