Abstract: Alternative designs, materials and manufacturing methods for guidewires. Some embodiments pertain to a composite guidewire having proximal and distal section, and a connector adapted and configured for permanently joining the proximal section to the distal section. In some embodiments, at least one of the sections is made of a linear-elastic nickel-titanium alloy. Several alternative guidewire tip constructions and/or designs including methods and techniques of construction are also disclosed.

Abstract: A guidewire and methods for making and using the same. The guidewire may include a core wire and a polymer jacket attached to the core wire. The guidewire may be manufactured by advancing the core wire, polymer jacket, and a tooling tube through a heated die assembly so as to heat and compress the polymer jacket onto the core wire. Optionally, the tooling tube may be removed from the jacket after advancing the components through the die assembly.

Abstract: Alternative designs, materials and manufacturing methods for medical devices. Some embodiments disclosed deal with attachment of an elongated structure, such as a wire or ribbon, or a tubular member, such as a coil, to an elongated member in an elongated device. For example, an elongated core member having defining an outer surface, and an elongated structure including a first portion and a second expanded portion along the length thereof can be provided. An attachment member, such as a centering ring, or the like, is disposed about a portion of the elongated core member and a part of the first portion of the elongated structure. The attachment member defines a lumen and having an inner surface. Part of the first portion of the elongated structure is disposed between the inner surface of the attachment member and the outer surface of the elongated core member.

Abstract: Alternative designs, materials and manufacturing methods for guidewires. Some embodiments pertain to a composite guidewire having proximal and distal section, and a connector adapted and configured for permanently joining the proximal section to the distal section. In some embodiments, at least one of the sections is made of a linear-elastic nickel-titanium alloy. Several alternative guidewire tip constructions and/or designs including methods and techniques of construction are also disclosed.

Abstract: Elongate medical devices such as guidewires can be formed from a core wire and a preformed distal cap that is configured to fit over a distal end of the core wire. The distal cap can be attached using a variety of techniques. In particular, the distal cap can be attached to the core wire using laser welding.

Abstract: A system for, and method of, validating an interface of a dynamically linkable component, such that one dynamically linkable component can assess its interface compatibility with another. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a check code generator that transforms the interface of the dynamically linkable component into an interface identifier representing the interface and couples the interface identifier to the dynamically linkable component and (2) a interface verifier that employs the interface identifier to determine a compatibility of the dynamically linkable component.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods of manufacturing medical devices. The medical devices include an elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a connector assembly disposed adjacent the elongated member to connect the proximal and distal portions, the connector assembly including a radiopaque marker.

Abstract: A guide wire including a lubricous distal portion and a less lubricous intermediate portion proximal of said distal portion. One guide wire provides a highly lubricous distal portion with a hydrophilic layer and a less lubricous intermediate portion with a hydrophobic layer. Another guide wire provides a lubricous distal portion with a polymer tip that is itself hydrophilic. Yet another guide wire provides a less lubricous intermediate portion using a stainless steel coil helically wound around the tapering intermediate portion. The coil is preferably coated with a hydrophobic coating such as PTFE or silicone. The coil can either abut the distal portion proximal end or extend into the distal portion interior.

Abstract: Guidewire with an improved distal end. A guidewire with an improved distal end may include a core wire, a solder tip disposed at a distal end of the core wire, a radiopaque inner coil coupled to the distal end of the core wire, an outer coil disposed along the length of the core wire, and a distal hub coupled to the core wire and disposed proximate a distal end of the inner coil.

Abstract: Alternative designs, materials and manufacturing methods for guidewires. Some embodiments pertain to a composite guidewire having proximal and distal section, and a connector adapted and configured for permanently joining the proximal section to the distal section. In some embodiments, at least one of the sections is made of a linear-elastic nickel-titanium alloy. Several alternative guidewire tip constructions and/or designs including methods and techniques of construction are also disclosed.

Abstract: Alternative designs, materials and manufacturing methods for guidewires. Some embodiments pertain to a composite guidewire having proximal and distal section, and a connector adapted and configured for permanently joining the proximal section to the distal section. In some embodiments, at least one of the sections is made of a linear-elastic nickel-titanium alloy. Several alternative guidewire tip constructions and/or designs including methods and techniques of construction are also disclosed.

Abstract: Alternative designs, materials and manufacturing methods for medical devices. Some embodiments pertain to a composite medical device including an first section having an end, and a connector member defining an opening therein, wherein the end of the elongated section extends into the opening. A bismuth alloy connector material is disposed within the opening, and the connector material is configured to expand when solidified to exert a compressive force within the connector member.

Abstract: Elongate medical devices such as guidewires can be formed from a core wire and a preformed distal cap that is configured to fit over a distal end of the core wire. The distal cap can be attached using a variety of techniques. In particular, the distal cap can be attached to the core wire using laser welding.

Abstract: Guidewire with an improved distal end. A guidewire with an improved distal end may include a core wire, a solder tip disposed at a distal end of the core wire, a radiopaque inner coil coupled to the distal end of the core wire, an outer coil disposed along the length of the core wire, and a distal hub coupled to the core wire and disposed proximate a distal end of the inner coil.

Abstract: Medical devices and methods of manufacturing medical devices. The medical devices include an elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a connector assembly disposed adjacent the elongated member to connect the proximal and distal portions, the connector assembly including a radiopaque marker.

Abstract: A medical device having a support member disposed between an elongate shaft and a coil. The support member is adapted and configured to provide structural support to the coil so as to help maintain the position of the coil relative to the shaft.

Abstract: A guide wire including a lubricous distal portion and a less lubricous intermediate portion proximal of said distal portion. One guide wire provides a highly lubricous distal portion with a hydrophilic layer and a less lubricous intermediate portion with a hydrophobic layer. Another guide wire provides a lubricous distal portion with a polymer tip that is itself hydrophilic. Yet another guide wire provides a less lubricous intermediate portion using a stainless steel coil helically wound around the tapering intermediate portion. The coil is preferably coated with a hydrophobic coating such as PTFE or silicone. The coil can either abut the distal portion proximal end or extend into the distal portion interior.

Abstract: A system for, and method of, disseminating a functional block to a redundant controller for a real-time process control system and a real-time process control system incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a dynamically linkable library object associable with the functional block and (2) a shared memory, associated with at least two nodes of the redundant controller, that receives the dynamically linkable library object and the functional block and provides concurrent access thereto by both the at least two nodes to ensure consistent memory images therefore without requiring one of the at least two nodes to be taken off-line.

Abstract: A guide wire including a lubricous distal portion and a less lubricous intermediate portion proximal of said distal portion. One guide wire provides a highly lubricous distal portion with a hydrophilic layer and a less lubricous intermediate portion with a hydrophobic layer. Another guide wire provides a lubricous distal portion with a polymer tip that is itself hydrophilic. Yet another guide wire provides a less lubricous intermediate portion using a stainless steel coil helically wound around the tapering intermediate portion. The coil is preferably coated with a hydrophobic coating such as PTFE or silicone. The coil can either abut the distal portion proximal end or extend into the distal portion interior.

Abstract: A guide wire including a lubricous distal portion and a less lubricous intermediate portion proximal of said distal portion. One guide wire provides a highly lubricous distal portion with a hydrophilic layer and a less lubricous intermediate portion with a hydrophobic layer. Another guide wire provides a lubricous distal portion with a polymer tip that is itself hydrophilic. Yet another guide wire provides a less lubricous intermediate portion using a stainless steel coil helically wound around the tapering intermediate portion. The coil is preferably coated with a hydrophobic coating such as PTFE or silicone. The coil can either abut the distal portion proximal end or extend into the distal portion interior.