NON-METALLIC GUIDE WIRE
A guide wire having a non-metallic, non-woven core wire is disclosed. Monofilar, polymeric fibers of multifilar helically-wound non-metallic fibers are preferred core wire materials. The guide wire optionally includes further coatings and other materials on the core wire. In one embodiment, a non-metallic distal coil wire is disclosed. The guide wire of this invention is particularly useable for magnetic resonance imaging applications.
1 . A core wire configured for use in a guide wire, the core wire comprising:
a) an axial length extending from a proximal core wire segment to a distal core wire segment,
b) wherein the core wire comprises carbon or glass fibers held together by a binder resin, and
c) wherein the distal core wire segment is provided with a series of radial cuts or etches, each cut or etch having a depth extending part-way through a thickness of the distal core wire segment.
2 . The core wire of claim 1 wherein the distal core segment has a reduced diameter perpendicular to the axial length, the reduced diameter being less than a proximal diameter of the proximal core wire segment.
3 . The core wire of claim 1 wherein the distal core wire segment is characterized as having been centerless ground to a reduced diameter that is less than a proximal diameter of the proximal core wire segment.
4 . The core wire of claim 1 wherein a polymeric outer coating is disposed over at least the distal core wire segment.
5 . The core wire of claim 4 wherein the polymeric outer coating is disposed over the core wire so that a diameter thereof perpendicular to the axial length is substantially uniform from a proximal end of the proximal core wire segment to a distal end of the distal core wire segment.
6 . The core wire of claim 4 wherein the polymeric outer coating is selected from the group consisting of polyetherimide (PEBAX), polyurethane, nylon, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
7 . The core wire of claim 1 wherein the binder resin is polyetheretherketone (PEEK).
8 . The core wire of claim 1 wherein the binder resin comprises polyetherether ketone or a vinyl ester.
9 . The core wire of claim 1 having from one to ten helical turns of the carbon or glass fibers per foot of axial length thereof.
10 . The core wire of claim 1 being solid.
11 . A guide wire, comprising:
a) a core wire extending along an axial length, the core wire comprising a medial core wire segment intermediate a proximal core wire segment and a distal core wire segment, wherein:
i) the core wire comprises carbon or glass fibers held together by a binder resin,
ii) the distal core segment has a reduced diameter perpendicular to the axial length that is less than a medial diameter of the medial core wire segment,
iii) wherein the distal core wire segment is provided with a series of radial cuts or etches, each cut or etch having a depth extending part-way through a thickness of the distal core wire segment;
b) a polymeric coil disposed about the distal core wire segment; and
c) a polymeric outer coating disposed over the entire core wire so as to provide the guide wire with a substantially uniform diameter along the axial length.
12 . The guide wire of claim 11 wherein the core wire has from one to ten helical turns of the carbon or glass fibers per foot of axial length thereof.
13 . The guide wire of claim 11 wherein the polymeric outer coating further includes radiopaque fillers.
14 . The guide wire of claim 11 wherein the binder resin comprises polyetherether ketone or a vinyl ester.
15 . The guide wire of claim 11 wherein the polymeric outer coating is selected from the group consisting of polyetherimide (PEBAX), polyurethane, nylon, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
16 . The guide wire of claim 11 wherein the distal core wire segment is characterized as having been centerless ground to the reduced diameter.
17 . A guide wire, comprising:
a) a core wire extending along an axial length from a proximal core wire segment to a distal core wire segment, wherein the core wire comprises carbon or glass fibers held together by a binder resin;
b) a series of radial cuts or etches in the distal core wire segment, each cut or etch having a depth extending part-way through a thickness of the distal core wire segment; and
c) a polymeric outer coating disposed over at least the distal core wire segment so that a diameter of the guide wire perpendicular to the axial length is substantially uniform from a proximal end of the proximal core wire segment to a distal end of the distal core wire segment.
18 . The guide wire of claim 17 wherein the core wire has from one to ten helical turns of the carbon or glass fibers per foot of axial length thereof.
19 . The guide wire of claim 17 wherein the polymeric outer coating is selected from the group consisting of polyetherimide (PEBAX), polyurethane, nylon, and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
20 . The guide wire of claim 17 wherein the binder resin comprises polyetherether ketone or a vinyl ester.