Guidewires and thin film catheter-sheaths and method of making same

Abstract

Guidewires and thin-film catheter-sheaths, fabricated using vacuum deposition techniques, which are monolayer or plural-layer members having ultra-thin wall thicknesses to provide very-low profile delivery assemblies for introduction and delivery of endoluminal devices.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A seamless tube comprising a plurality of concentric substantially homogeneous layers having a thickness, each of the plurality of concentric substantially homogenous layers being a biocompatible material, wherein concentrically adjacent substantially homogenous layers are separated by an inhomogenous interface region characterized by a localized concentration of grain boundaries at the interface region and wherein at least one of the substantially homogenous layers comprises a radiopaque biocompatible material. 
     
     
         2 . The seamless tube of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of microperforations that impart at least one of longitudinal compliance and radial compliance. 
     
     
         3 . The seamless tube of  claim 1 , further comprising a discontinuous columnar grain structure across the thickness of the plurality of concentric substantially homogeneous layers. 
     
     
         4 . The seamless tube of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of concentric substantially homogeneous layers include a limit of grain or defect size. 
     
     
         5 . The seamless tube of  claim 1 , wherein the seamless tube further comprises a guidewire. 
     
     
         6 . A guidewire having a tubular guidewire body defining a guidewire lumen and extending from a proximal end to a distal end defining an entire longitudinal length of the guidewire, wherein the tubular guidewire body consists of only a thin-film of a biocompatible metal, the thin-film having a plurality of layers separated by an interface region between adjacent layers, each of the plurality of layers further comprising a substantially homogeneous layer of at least one biocompatible metal and the interface region further comprising inhomogeneous region characterized by a localized concentration of grain boundaries. 
     
     
         7 . The guidewire of  claim 6 , wherein the guidewire body further comprises a plurality of microperforations that impart at least one of longitudinal compliance and radial compliance. 
     
     
         8 . The guidewire of  claim 6 , wherein a radiopaque metal is used to form at least one of the layers. 
     
     
         9 . The guidewire of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of layers are concentric. 
     
     
         10 . The guidewire of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of layers include a limit of grain or defect size. 
     
     
         11 . The guidewire of  claim 6 , wherein the biocompatible metal is selected from a group of biocompatible materials consisting of elemental titanium, vanadium, aluminum, nickel tantalum, zirconium, chromium, silver, gold, silicon, magnesium, niobium, scandium, platinum, cobalt, palladium, manganese, molybdenum and alloys thereof, nitinol, and stainless steel.