Patent · US Active

Variable stiffness guidewire systems

US8100838B2 · kind B2 · utility

63Cited by
43References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 15, 2008
Grant dateJan 24, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 7, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61M2025/0915
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A variable-stiffness guidewire system which comprises an elongated flexible guidewire. The guidewire has a body and a guidewire head coupled to the body. The guidewire head is slidably moveable with respect to a guidewire collar of the body to adjust a stiffness of the guidewire. A tool is utilized with the guidewire to engage the guidewire head and move the guidewire head a desired distance from the guidewire collar to achieve a desired stiffness. The tool has a first mechanism that is configured to selectively deploy an insert to be positioned between the guidewire head and the guidewire collar. The insert maintains the desired stiffness of the guidewire.

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