Abstract: A guidewire extension system including a guidewire and an extension wire is disclosed. The system includes female and male connector segments located on the proximal end of the guidewire or the distal end of the extension wire. The hollow female connector segment, in one embodiment, includes a radial lip which intersects with at least one, i.e., one or more, lateral slots. The male connector segment includes an external groove. When the male connector is inserted into the female connector segment, the slots are expanded and the lip snaps into the groove providing a tactile indication that connection is completed. No restriction or frictional fit is created. The guidewire and extension wire are freely rotatable with respect to each other and can be multiply connected and disconnected. Methods of catheter exchange with tactile indication of guidewire extension wire connection are disclosed.

Abstract: Multi-filar, open and closed coil, tubular medical stents that are introduced to a site in a body lumen and released to expand at the site to provide a passageway through the stent lumen are disclosed. Each stent filar is a coil wound in substantially the same pitch through the majority of its length between the ends thereof. The coils are attached together at least at one coil end to form an end of the stent and wound in an interleaved manner such that the adjacent coils are substantially evenly spaced apart or in close contact in the released state and do not cross over one another. In one open coil stent embodiment, both ends of each coil are attached in respective first and second common attachment junctions, and the resulting coils have relatively even predetermined spacing between adjacent coil turns through the majority of the length of the stent between the first and last coil turns when the stent is released.

Abstract: A guidewire extension system including a guidewire and an extension wire is disclosed. The system includes female and male connector segments located on the proximal end of the guidewire or the distal end of the extension wire. The hollow female connector segment, in one embodiment, includes a radial lip which intersects with lateral slots. The male connector segment includes an external groove. When the male connector is inserted into the female connector segment, the slots are expanded and the lip snaps into the groove providing a tactile indication that connection is completed.No restriction or frictional fit is created. The guidewire and extension wire are freely rotatable with respect to each other and can be multiply connected and disconnected. Methods of catheter exchange with tactile indication of guidewire extension wire connection are disclosed.