Composite guidewire
Alternative designs, materials and manufacturing methods for guidewires. Some embodiments pertain to a composite guidewire having proximal and distal section, and a connector adapted and configured for permanently joining the proximal section to the distal section. In some embodiments, at least one of the sections is made of a linear-elastic nickel-titanium alloy. Several alternative guidewire tip designs including coiled safety/shaping structures are also disclosed.
1. A guidewire, comprising:
an elongate core member having a proximal portion and a distal tip portion; and
a shaping member coupled to the distal tip portion, the shaping member being formed from a single wire or ribbon that transitions from a coiled section having a length disposed on and encircling an outer surface of the distal tip portion of the elongate core to a non-coiled section extending distally from the distal tip portion;
wherein the length of the coiled section is less than a length of the proximal portion of the elongate core member.
2. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the shaping member includes stainless steel.
3. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the shaping member includes a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, nickel-chromium alloy, cobalt alloy, and nickel-titanium alloy.
4. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the shaping member includes a shapeable material.
5. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the shaping member is soldered to the distal tip portion.
6. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the coiled section and the non-coiled section includes a flattened ribbon.
7. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the non-coiled section includes one or more helical twists.
8. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the non-coiled section is coaxial with the distal tip portion.
9. The medical device of claim 1 , wherein the core member includes a connector that attaches the proximal portion to the distal tip portion.
10. The medical device of claim 9 , wherein the connector includes a metal alloy having a Unified Numbering System (UNS) designation of N06625.
11. A guidewire, comprising:
an elongate core wire having a proximal portion having a length and a distal portion having a length; and
a distal member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end coupled to the distal portion of the elongate core wire, the distal member being made from a single structure that transitions from a coiled section having a length that is coiled around and disposed on an outer surface of the distal portion of the elongate core wire to a non-coiled section extending distally from the distal portion;
wherein the length of the coiled section is significantly shorter than the length of proximal portion of the elongate core.
12. The medical device of claim 11 , wherein the distal member includes a shaping ribbon.
13. The medical device of claim 11 , wherein the distal member includes stainless steel.
14. The medical device of claim 11 , wherein the distal member includes a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, nickel-chromium alloy, cobalt alloy, and nickel-titanium alloy.
15. The medical device of claim 11 , wherein the distal member includes a shapeable material.
16. The medical device of claim 11 , wherein the distal member is soldered to the distal portion.
17. The medical device of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the coiled section and the non-coiled section includes a flattened ribbon.