Patent · US Expired

Guidewire with multiple radiopaque marker sections

US7033325B1 · kind B1 · utility

116Cited by
50References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 30, 2000
Grant dateApr 25, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 27, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M2025/09166
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An over-the-wire balloon catheter has a radiopaque marker thereon at a known distance from a distal end of the catheter. An elongated flexible guide wire has a plurality of longitudinally spaced radiopaque markers on a distal portion thereof, with adjacent markers on the guide wire being longitudinally spaced at a distance equal to the known distance between the distal end of the catheter and its radiopaque marker. The guide wire is advanced through an artery until one of its markers is positioned at a desired location relative to a stenosis. Subsequently, the balloon catheter is advanced over the guide wire until the radiopaque marker of the catheter is in a predetermined position relationship to the radiopaque marker of the guide wire which has aligned on the stenosis. The cooperating radiopaque markers of the guide wire and catheter thus allow the balloon member of the catheter to be positioned relative to the stenosis in a timely fashion without the need to constantly inject fluoroscopic dye to view the stenosis.

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