Guidewire

Abstract

A guidewire has a coil with a side of the coil winds having solid physical connections between the coil winds to prevent the connected coil wind side from expanding resulting from the application of force by an actuating member. The application of longitudinal force to the coil causes the unconnected coil wind side to expand while the connected side does not expand, resulting in the guidewire assuming a different configuration.

1 . A guidewire, comprising:
 a. a shaft defining a lateral dimension, a length, a proximal section and a distal section having greater flexibility than the proximal section;   b. the distal section defining a weak side and an strong side; and   c. an actuating member attached proximate a distal end of the distal section, the actuating member capable of transmitting longitudinal force to the distal section;   
       wherein applying longitudinal force to the actuating member causes the weak side of the distal section to increase in size while the strong side maintains substantially the same size, resulting in the distal section deflecting. 
     
     
         2 . The guidewire of  claim 1  wherein the guidewire in a non-stressed configuration has a straight configuration and applying distal force to the actuating member causes the distal section to deflect. 
     
     
         3 . The guidewire of  claim 1  wherein the guidewire in a non-stressed configuration has a straight configuration and applying proximal force to the actuating member causes the distal section to deflect. 
     
     
         4 . The guidewire of  claim 1  wherein the guidewire in a non-stressed configuration has a deflected configuration and applying distal force to the actuating member causes the distal section to straighten. 
     
     
         5 . The guidewire of  claim 1  wherein the guidewire in a non-stressed configuration has a deflected configuration and applying proximal force to the actuating member causes the distal section to straighten. 
     
     
         6 . The guidewire of  claim 1  wherein at least the distal section comprises a coil defining a central space. 
     
     
         7 . The guidewire of  claim 6  wherein the strong side of the distal section is prevented from assuming a larger size by a ribbon attached to the coil. 
     
     
         8 . The guidewire of  claim 7  wherein the ribbon is attached to the coil at a flattened section formed into the surface of the distal section of the coil. 
     
     
         9 . A guidewire, comprising:
 a. a shaft defining a lateral dimension, a length, a proximal section and a distal section having greater flexibility than the proximal section;   b. the distal section of the shaft comprising a coil defining a first central space and an expandable side and a non-expandable side;   c. the proximal section comprising a hollow member defining a second central space substantially coaxial with the first central space;   d. an actuating member extending through the first central space and the second central space, the actuating member attached proximate a distal end of the distal section and capable of transferring longitudinal force to the coil;   
       wherein applying longitudinal force to the actuating member causes the expandable side of the distal section to expand while the unexpandable side is prevented from expanding, resulting the distal section deflecting. 
     
     
         10 . The guidewire of  claim 9  wherein the guidewire in a non-stressed configuration has a straight configuration and applying distal force to the actuating member causes the distal section to deflect. 
     
     
         11 . The guidewire of  claim 9  wherein the guidewire in a non-stressed configuration has a straight configuration and applying proximal force to the actuating member causes the distal section to deflect. 
     
     
         12 . The guidewire of  claim 9  wherein the guidewire in a non-stressed configuration has a deflected configuration and applying distal force to the actuating member causes the distal section to straighten. 
     
     
         13 . The guidewire of  claim 9  wherein the guidewire in a non-stressed configuration has a deflected configuration and applying proximal force to the actuating member causes the distal section to straighten. 
     
     
         14 . The guidewire of  claim 9  wherein the actuating member extends at least the length of the shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The guidewire of  claim 14  wherein the actuating member is a solid rod defining a distal end and having an end piece attached to the distal end. 
     
     
         16 . The guidewire of  claim 15  wherein the actuating member defines a tapered section corresponding to the distal section. 
     
     
         17 . The guidewire of  claim 15  wherein the actuating member defines a flat section corresponding to the distal section. 
     
     
         18 . The guidewire of  claim 9  wherein the non-expandable side of the distal section is prevented from expanding by a ribbon attached to the coil. 
     
     
         19 . The guidewire of  claim 18  wherein the ribbon is attached to the coil at a flattened section formed into the surface of the distal section of the coil. 
     
     
         20 . A guidewire, comprising:
 a. a coil defining a length, a central space, a proximal section and a distal section, the distal section further defining a distal end;   b. an actuating member extending through the central space and attached proximate the distal end of the coil, the actuating member capable of transferring longitudinal force to the coil; and   c. the distal section defining an expandable side and a non-expandable side;   
       wherein the application of longitudinal force by the actuating member causes the expandable side of the coil winds to expand, resulting in the distal section assuming a deflected configuration having a different shape than in a non-deflected configuration. 
     
     
         21 . The guidewire of  claim 20  wherein the guidewire in a non-stressed state has a straight configuration and applying distal force to the actuating member causes the distal section to deflect. 
     
     
         22 . The guidewire of  claim 20  wherein the guidewire in a non-stressed state has a straight configuration and applying proximal force to the actuating member causes the distal section to deflect. 
     
     
         23 . The guidewire of  claim 20  wherein the guidewire in a non-stressed state has a curved configuration and applying distal force to the actuating member causes the distal section to straighten. 
     
     
         24 . The guidewire of  claim 20  wherein the guidewire in a non-stressed state has a curved configuration and applying proximal force to the actuating member causes the distal section to straighten. 
     
     
         25 . The guidewire of  claim 20  wherein the actuating member extends at least the length of the shaft. 
     
     
         26 . The guidewire of  claim 25  wherein the actuating member is a solid rod defining a distal end and having an end piece attached to the distal end. 
     
     
         27 . The guidewire of  claim 26  wherein the actuating member defines a tapered section corresponding to the distal section. 
     
     
         28 . The guidewire of  claim 26  wherein the actuating member defines a flat section corresponding to the distal section. 
     
     
         29 . The guidewire of  claim 20  wherein the non-expandable side of the distal section is prevented from expanding by a ribbon attached to the coil. 
     
     
         30 . The guidewire of  claim 29  wherein the ribbon is attached to the coil at a flattened section formed into the surface of the distal section of the coil. 
     
     
         31 . The guidewire of  claim 20  wherein the distal section of the coil is wound at a lesser pitch than the proximal section of the coil. 
     
     
         32 . The guidewire of  claim 31  wherein the distal section of the coil and the proximal section of the coil are integrally attached. 
     
     
         33 . The guidewire of  claim 25  wherein the actuating member is a filamentous fiber attached to the distal end.