SENSING GUIDEWIRE WITH INTEGRATED PROXIMAL LOCKING FEATURE
Intravascular devices, systems and methods of fabricating the same are provided. In one embodiment, an intravascular system includes an intravascular guidewire that includes a flexible elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, at least one electronic component secured to the distal portion of the flexible elongate member, and a locking section integral with a metal core of the flexible elongate member at the proximal portion of the flexible elongate member. The metal core has a first diameter. The locking section includes a first subsection and a second subsection. The first subsection has a second of diameter smaller than the first diameter and the second subsection transitions between the first diameter and the second diameter.
1 . An intravascular system, comprising:
an intravascular guidewire, comprising:
a flexible elongate member comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the flexible elongate member further comprises a metal core, the metal core having a first diameter,
at least one electronic component secured to the distal portion of the flexible elongate member, and
at the proximal portion of the flexible elongate member, a locking section integral with the metal core,
wherein the locking section comprises a first subsection and a second subsection, the first subsection having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, the second subsection transitioning between the first diameter and the second diameter.
2 . The intravascular system of claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion terminates at a proximal end, the proximal end comprising the first diameter.
3 . The intravascular system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible elongate member further comprises a polymer layer over the metal core and a plurality of conductive ribbons embedded within the polymer layer.
4 . The intravascular system of claim 3 , wherein the proximal portion of the flexible elongate member comprises an insulation layer formed over a proximal portion of the plurality of conductive ribbons, the insulation layer being distal to the locking section.
5 . The intravascular system of claim 3 , wherein the proximal portion of the flexible elongate member comprises a conductive portion in communication with one of the plurality of conductive ribbons.
6 . The intravascular system of claim 5 , wherein the conductive portion comprises a conductive ink.
7 . The intravascular system of claim 5 , wherein the conductive portion comprises a metal ring.
8 . The intravascular system of claim 1 , wherein the metal core comprises an electrical ground for the electronic component.
9 . The intravascular system of claim 1 ,
wherein the locking section further comprises a third subsection,
wherein the first subsection is between the second subsection and the third subsection,
wherein the second subsection includes a first taper, a distal end of the first taper having the second diameter and a proximal end of the first taper having the first diameter, and
wherein the third subsection includes a second taper, a distal end of the second taper having the first diameter and a proximal end of the second taper having the second diameter.
10 . The intravascular system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a connector for coupling to the proximal portion of the flexible elongate member, the connector including a locking clip comprising a slit sized and shaped to receive the locking section of the flexible elongate member.
11 . The intravascular system of claim 10 , wherein the locking clip comprises a top portion tilting proximally at a tilt angle.
12 . A method of fabricating an intravascular guidewire, comprising:
providing a flexible elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the flexible elongate member comprises a metal core and a polymer layer over the metal core, the metal core having a first diameter;
securing at least one electronic component to the distal portion of the flexible elongate member; and
forming a locking section in the proximal portion of the flexible elongate member by machining around a circumference of the flexible elongate member to remove a portion of the polymer layer and a portion of the metal core in the locking section.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the flexible elongate member further comprises a plurality of conductive ribbons embedded within the polymer layer.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein forming the locking section further comprises machining around a circumference of the flexible elongate member to remove a portion of the plurality of conductive ribbons in the locking section.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
forming an insulation layer over a proximal portion of the plurality of conductive ribbons, the insulation layer being distal to the locking section.
16 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
removing a portion of the polymer layer over a conductive portion of the flexible elongate member such that one of the plurality of conductive ribbons is exposed, the conductive portion being adjacent to the locking section; and
forming a conductive layer over the exposed conductive ribbon.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the conductive layer comprises a conductive ink.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the conductive layer comprises a metal ring.
19 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
machining a first subsection of the locking section until the first subsection has a second diameter smaller than the first diameter; and
machining a second subsection such that the second subsection transitions between the first diameter and the second diameter.