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 fluoroscopic imaging. Another embodiment has at least one layer of polymer over the distal end of the device.

Abstract: An expandable frame for use in conjunction with an embolic filtering device includes a Beta titanium alloy, and more particularly, a Beta III titanium alloy. The expandable frame may be coupled to the distal end of a guide wire. The guide wire may also include Beta III titanium. The Beta III titanium material can be processed to have an elastic modulus about twice that of other expandable frame or guide wire materials, thereby allowing a reduction of the cross-sectional area of the frame and/or guide wire while maintaining the bending stiffness of the frame and/or guide wire. The Beta III titanium also improves manufacturability of the frames, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

Abstract: An expandable frame for an embolic filtering device used to capture embolic debris in a body vessel includes a first half frame having a first control arm connected to a second control arm by a partial loop and a second half frame having a first control arm connected to a second control arm by a partial loop. The partial loops cooperatively form a composite loop for attachment of a filtering element which will expand in the body vessel to capture embolic debris entrained in the fluid of the vessel. The expandable frame and filtering element can be mounted on a filter support structure, such as a coiled wire, and mounted on a guide wire. The expandable frames includes an articulation region which helps to distribute the strain which can be developed when the frame moves between an expanded and deployed position. The expandable frame may include further strain distributing bends which help distribute strain and increase the bendability of the frame.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a guidewire having a distal section with multiple distally tapered core segments with at least two contiguous distally tapering core segments in which the most distal tapered core segment preferably has a greater degree of taper than the proximally contiguous tapered core segment. The invention is also directed to an elongated intracorporeal device, preferably 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 section of the device. The device may also have a core section with a continuously changing taper angle to produce a curvilinear profile that preferably is configured to produce a linear change in stiffness of the core over a longitudinal section of the device.

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.

Abstract: A guide wire for guiding a medical device within a patient is disclosed. The guide wire has a solid inner core made of high modulus material such as Conichrome® or a rhenium alloy, and an outer shell made of a flexible, kink resistant material such as a nickel-titanium alloy. Preferably, the modulus of elasticity of the inner core material is at least about 20 percent greater than that of the outer shell material. The outer shell is mechanically joined to the inner core through a drawing or cladding process. In various embodiments, the distal end of the guide wire can be tapered by grinding away the outer shell to expose the inner core. Because of its stiffness, it can be manually shaped by the physician or cardiologist.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an guide wire for intraluminal deployment of a medical device within a patient, the guide wire having an elongate core member with an intermediate core section comprising a plurality of contiguous segments in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the core member with alternating flexible and rigid core segments, so that the articulated section bends in a discontinuous, discrete manner when advanced through a curved blood vessel or other body lumen within the patient. When an obstruction on a vessel wall causes the catheter or other coaxial device to be impeded, the guide wire and intermediate core section may alternately be advanced and retracted a short distance through the catheter distal tip causing a “nodding” motion of the catheter tip while the catheter is pushed through the vessel, so as to avoid and bypass the vessel obstruction.

Abstract: An intracorporeal device such as a guide wire with an elongated core having a radiopaque and optionally MRI-compatible markers embedded in a polymer sleeve disposed on a distal section of the elongated core is disclosed. The marker sleeve may be secured to a tapered portion of the distal core section or a constant diameter portion of the distal core section. Individual markers may be formed by radiopaque ribbons, bands, or strips, or may be in the form of a helical coil.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and method of encoded markings on the body of medical devices such as guide-wires having limited surface for markings. The markings include indicators of characteristics, such as the design family, the size, and other pertinent specifications. The marking system of the invention comprise an spatially ordered series of marks on the surface of the device, with each mark corresponding to an information or data category. Each mark is coded with a value of the code property which is correlated with and expresses a particular data element within the data category and pertinent to the marked device specimen. The code property value may then be inspected or “read” by the device user to evaluate the data element and obtain information regarding the marked device specimen.

Abstract: An intracorporeal device such as a guide wire with an elongated core having a radiopaque and optionally MRI-compatible markers embedded in a polymer sleeve disposed on a distal section of the elongated core is disclosed. The marker sleeve may be secured to a tapered portion of the distal core section or a constant diameter portion of the distal core section. Individual markers may be formed by radiopaque ribbons, bands, or strips, or may be in the form of a helical coil.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an guide wire for intraluminal deployment of a medical device within a patient, the guide wire having an elongate core member with an intermediate core section comprising a plurality of contiguous segments in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the core member with alternating flexible and rigid core segments, so that the articulated section bends in a discontinuous, discrete manner when advanced through a curved blood vessel or other body lumen within the patient. When an obstruction on a vessel wall causes the catheter or other coaxial device to be impeded, the guide wire and intermediate core section may alternately be advanced and retracted a short distance through the catheter distal tip causing a “nodding” motion of the catheter tip while the catheter is pushed through the vessel, so as to avoid and bypass the vessel obstruction.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an guide wire for intraluminal deployment of a medical device within a patient, the guide wire having an elongate core member with an intermediate core section comprising a plurality of contiguous segments in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the core member with alternating flexible and rigid core segments, so that the articulated section bends in a discontinuous, discrete manner when advanced through a curved blood vessel or other body lumen within the patient. When an obstruction on a vessel wall causes the catheter or other coaxial device to be impeded, the guide wire and intermediate core section may alternately be advanced and retracted a short distance through the catheter distal tip causing a “nodding” motion of the catheter tip while the catheter is pushed through the vessel, so as to avoid and bypass the vessel obstruction.

Abstract: A guidewire for guiding a medical device within a patient which has an elongate core member with a flexible body member disposed about and secured to a distal core section and a flexible core segment or flexible core segment which has a first pair of opposed faces which define a first transverse dimension that tapers from a first value to a second larger value and a second pair of opposed faces which define a second transverse dimension that tapers from a first value to a second smaller value.

Abstract: A guidewire having an elongated core having a radiopaque marker on a distal portion of the core and a plurality of indicia on the proximal extremity of the core to facilitate measurement of an intracorporeal location such as a stenotic region within a patient's coronary artery. The guidewire is first positioned within the patient with the distal radiopaque marker at one end of the intracorporeal location and an indicia representing a base reference point is noted on the proximal portion of the guidewire which extends out of the patient. The guidewire is then moved so that the distal radiopaque marker is located at or adjacent to the other end of the intracorporeal location and another indicia on the proximal portion of the guidewire adjacent to the reference point. The distance between the two indicia on the proximal extremity of the guidewire is a measurement of intracorporeal length.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an intracorporeal device, preferably a guidewire, and method for making the same. The device, has proximal and distal ends and includes an elongated high strength proximal portion having proximal and distal ends. The device further includes a distal portion having proximal and distal ends. The distal end of the proximal portion and the proximal end of the distal portion are connected by a connector. The distal portion is formed of a superelastic alloy composition. Preferably, the connector is also formed of the superelastic alloy composition. The superelastic alloy composition includes, in atomic percent, from about 28 to about 52% nickel, from about 48 to about 52% titanium, and up to about 20% of at least one alloying element selected from the group consisting of palladium, chromium, and hafnium.