Steerable guide wire with torsionally stable tip

Abstract

A steerable guide wire includes a core wire having a proximal end and a distal end. A braided filament is affixed to the distal end of the core wire. An outer coil surrounds at least a portion of the core wire and the braided filament. A proximal end of the braided filament is secured to a distal end of the coil. By locating the braided filament in the distal tip portion of the guide wire, a guide wire is provided that is highly flexible, has a high degree of tensile integrity, and is highly steerable, even in tortuous vasculature. Filter and balloon catheters having braided filaments at the distal end are also described.

1 . A guide wire comprising: 
 a core wire having a proximal end and a distal end;    a braided filament disposed at the distal end of the core wire; and    a coil surrounding at least a portion of the core wire and the braided filament.    
     
     
         2 . The guide wire of  claim 1 , wherein the braided filament is joined to the core wire by a solder joint.  
     
     
         3 . The guide wire of  claim 1 , wherein the braided filament is joined to the core wire and the coil by a solder joint.  
     
     
         4 . The guide wire of  claim 1 , wherein the coil is joined to the core wire by a solder joint.  
     
     
         5 . The guide wire of  claim 1 , wherein the coil is joined to the braided filament by a solder joint.  
     
     
         6 . The guide wire of  claim 1 , wherein the core wire is tapered in a distal region.  
     
     
         7 . The guide wire of  claim 1 , wherein the coil comprises at least one of platinum, a platinum alloy, or stainless steel.  
     
     
         8 . The guide wire of  claim 2 , wherein the platinum alloy is platinum-iridium or platinum-tungsten.  
     
     
         9 . The guide wire of  claim 1 , wherein the coil comprises a proximal coil segment and a distal coil segment.  
     
     
         10 . The guide wire of  claim 9 , wherein the distal coil segment, the proximal coil segment, the braided filament, and the core wire are joined by a solder joint.  
     
     
         11 . The guide wire of  claim 9 , wherein the distal coil segment is coupled to the proximal coil segment.  
     
     
         12 . The guide wire of  claim 11 , wherein the distal coil segment is coupled to the proximal coil segment by threading a proximal end of the distal coil segment into a distal end of the proximal coil segment.  
     
     
         13 . The guide wire of  claim 1 , further comprising a tip weld at a distal end of the guide wire.  
     
     
         14 . The guide wire of  claim 13 , wherein the tip weld joins a distal end of the coil to a distal end of the braided filament.  
     
     
         15 . The guide wire of  claim 13 , wherein the tip weld has a substantially hemispherical distal portion.  
     
     
         16 . The guide wire of  claim 13 , wherein the tip weld has a rounded distal portion.  
     
     
         17 . The guide wire of  claim 13 , wherein the tip weld has a pointed tip.  
     
     
         18 . The guide wire of  claim 13 , wherein the tip weld has a wedge-shaped tip.  
     
     
         19 . The guide wire of  claim 13 , wherein the tip weld has a tapered tip.  
     
     
         20 . The guide wire of  claim 1 , wherein the core wire extends through a portion of the braided filament.  
     
     
         21 . The guide wire of  claim 1 , wherein the core wire extends through the braided filament to a distal end of the braided filament.  
     
     
         22 . The guide wire of  claim 1 , wherein the core wire extends through the braided filament to a tip weld at the distal end of the guide wire.  
     
     
         23 . The guide wire of  claim 1 , wherein the braided filament is unitary with the core wire.  
     
     
         24 . A method for placing a guide wire in a vessel; comprising the steps of: 
 providing a guide wire comprising a core wire having a proximal end and a distal end, a braided filament disposed at the distal end of the core wire; and a coil surrounding at least a portion of the core wire and the braided filament; and    advancing the guide wire into the vessel.    
     
     
         25 - 28 . (canceled)  
     
     
         29 . A guide wire comprising: 
 a core wire having a proximal end and a distal region, the distal region having a segment that comprises a slotted segment with repeating alternating first and second regions, wherein the first region has a first cross-sectional width and wherein the second region has a second cross-sectional width, wherein the first cross-sectional width is smaller than the second cross-sectional width; and    a coil surrounding at least a portion of the core wire.    
     
     
         30 - 45 . (canceled)  
     
     
         46 . A method for placing a guide wire in a vessel; comprising the steps of: 
 providing a core wire having a proximal end and a distal region, the distal region having a segment that comprises a slotted segment with repeating alternating first and second regions, wherein the first region has a first cross-sectional width and wherein the second region has a second cross-sectional width, wherein the first cross-sectional width is smaller than the second cross-sectional width, and a coil surrounding at least a portion of the core wire; and    advancing the guide wire into the vessel.    
     
     
         47 - 50 . (canceled)  
     
     
         51 . A guide wire comprising: 
 a core wire having a proximal end and a distal end;    an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween, wherein at least a portion of the core wire is disposed within the lumen of the elongate tubular member; and    a coil surrounding at least a portion of the core wire and the elongate tubular member.    
     
     
         52 - 70 . (canceled)  
     
     
         71 . A method for placing a guide wire in a vessel; comprising the steps of: 
 providing a core wire having a proximal end and a distal end, an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therebetween, wherein at least a portion of the core wire is disposed within the lumen of the elongate tubular member, and a coil surrounding at least a portion of the core wire and the elongate tubular member.; and    advancing the guide wire into the vessel.    
     
     
         72 - 75 . (canceled)  
     
     
         76 . A medical device comprising: 
 an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal region, a balloon disposed on the distal region, and an inflation lumen communicating with the balloon and extending proximally from the balloon;    a braided filament extending distally from the distal region of the elongate tubular member; and    a coil surrounding at least a portion of the braided filament.    
     
     
         77 - 88 . (canceled)  
     
     
         89 . A method for treating a lesion in a vessel, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a medical device comprising: 
 an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal region, a dilatation balloon disposed on the distal region, and an inflation lumen communicating with the dilatation balloon and extending proximally from the dilatation balloon;  
 a braided filament extending distally from the distal region of the elongate tubular member; and  
 a coil surrounding at least a portion of the braided filament;  
   advancing the medical device into the vessel;    locating the dilatation balloon within the lesion; and    expanding the dilatation balloon to dilate the lesion.    
     
     
         90 . (canceled)  
     
     
         91 . A method for treating a lesion in a vessel, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a medical device comprising: 
 an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal region, an occlusion balloon disposed on the distal region, and an inflation lumen communicating with the occlusion balloon and extending proximally from the occlusion balloon;  
 a braided filament extending distally from the distal region of the elongate tubular member; and  
 a coil surrounding at least a portion of the braided filament;  
   advancing the medical device into the vessel;    locating the occlusion balloon distal the lesion; and    expanding the occlusion balloon to occlude the vessel.    
     
     
         92 - 93 . (canceled)  
     
     
         94 . A medical device comprising: 
 an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal region, an expandable filter disposed on the distal region, and an actuation mechanism operable to expand the expandable filter;    a braided filament extending distally from the distal region of the elongate tubular member; and    a coil surrounding at least a portion of the braided filament.    
     
     
         95 - 104 . (canceled)  
     
     
         105 . A method for treating a vessel having a lesion, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a medical device comprising: 
 an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal region, an expandable filter disposed on the distal region, and an actuation mechanism operable to expand the expandable filter;  
 a braided filament extending distally from the distal region of the elongate tubular member; and  
 a coil surrounding at least a portion of the braided filament;  
   advancing the medical device into the vessel;    locating the expandable filter distal the lesion; and    operating the actuation mechanism to expand the expandable filter.    
     
     
         106 - 107 . (canceled)