Medical guidewire assembly having predetermined spatial geometry
Medical guidewire assembly is movable through guidewire introducer positionable proximate to a biological wall located within the body of a patient. Medical guidewire assembly has flexible distal shaft section configured to extend along the guidewire introducer. Medical guidewire assembly has a predetermined spatial geometry once the flexible distal shaft section is removed from guidewire introducer. Medical guidewire assembly also has a piercing stylet device configured to puncture the biological wall in response to placement of guidewire introducer (in use) proximate to the biological wall, and movement of the flexible distal shaft section through the guidewire introducer. The predetermined spatial geometry is configured to prevent physical contact between the piercing stylet device and adjacently positioned tissue of the patient in response to formation of the predetermined spatial geometry.
1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a medical guidewire assembly configured to be movable, at least in part, through an exit portal of a guidewire introducer, and the exit portal being in fluid communication with an elongated interior channel extending, at least in part, longitudinally along the guidewire introducer, and the exit portal being positionable proximate to a biological wall located within the body of a patient; and
the medical guidewire assembly having a flexible distal shaft section; and
the flexible distal shaft section being configured to extend, at least in part, longitudinally along the elongated interior channel of the guidewire introducer after the flexible distal shaft section is received in, and supported by, the elongated interior channel; and
the flexible distal shaft section also being configured to have a predetermined spatial geometry once the flexible distal shaft section is moved beyond said exit portal, at least in part, from, and unsupported by, the elongated interior channel of the guidewire introducer, wherein the flexible distal shaft section includes a shaft guard portion spaced apart from the piercing stylet device, the shaft guard portion being configured to shield the piercing stylet device when the predetermined spatial geometry is formed; and
the medical guidewire assembly having a piercing stylet device extending from the flexible distal shaft section; and
the piercing stylet device being configured to puncture the biological wall of the patient in response to placement of the exit portal of the guidewire introducer, in use, proximate to the biological wall of the patient, and movement of the flexible distal shaft section through the exit portal toward the biological wall; and
the predetermined spatial geometry of the flexible distal shaft section being configured to prevent, at least in part, physical contact between the piercing stylet device and adjacently positioned tissue of the patient in response to formation of the predetermined spatial geometry by further movement of the flexible distal shaft section through the exit portal of the guidewire introducer after the biological wall is punctured by the piercing stylet device, wherein the predetermined spatial geometry forms a closed loop arrangement and causes the piercing stylet device to make physical contact with the shaft guard portion.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the shaft guard portion is configured to shield the piercing stylet device in response to formation of the predetermined spatial geometry by further movement of the flexible distal shaft section through the exit portal of the guidewire introducer after the biological wall is punctured by the piercing stylet device in such a way that the shaft guard portion, in use, prevents contact between the piercing stylet device and adjacently positioned tissue of the patient.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the flexible distal shaft section is configured to become fully relaxed and unsupported by the elongated interior channel of the guidewire introducer in response to progress of the flexible distal shaft section beyond the exit portal, from the elongated interior channel.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the predetermined spatial geometry is configured to be biased to lie on, and extend along, a single planar surface in response to progress of the flexible distal shaft section beyond the exit portal, from the elongated interior channel.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the flexible distal shaft section is configured to articulate to form the predetermined spatial geometry once the flexible distal shaft section is moved beyond the exit portal of the guidewire introducer.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the flexible distal shaft section has an inherent flexible tendency to become formed into the predetermined spatial geometry once the flexible distal shaft section is moved beyond the exit portal, at least in part, of the guidewire introducer.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the predetermined spatial geometry maintains the piercing stylet device and adjacently positioned tissue of the patient in a non-contact relationship with each other, and once the predetermined spatial geometry becomes formed, the predetermined spatial geometry prevents, at least in part, physical contact between the piercing stylet device and adjacently positioned tissue of the patient.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the piercing stylet device is positionable fully inside the left atrium of the patient; and
the predetermined spatial geometry is in a relaxed configuration in such a way that the predetermined spatial geometry of the flexible distal shaft section, in use, prevents physical contact between the piercing stylet device and any adjacently positioned tissue.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the predetermined spatial geometry is sized to fit in the left atrium of the heart.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the predetermined spatial geometry is formed such that the piercing stylet device is positioned within a confine of the predetermined spatial geometry and is surrounded by the predetermined spatial geometry.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the predetermined spatial geometry is configured in a way that a straight line cannot be drawn to the piercing stylet device without first contacting another portion of the predetermined spatial geometry of the flexible distal shaft section.
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the predetermined spatial geometry forms the closed loop arrangement configured to prevent a straight line from being drawn to the piercing stylet device without first contacting another portion of the predetermined spatial geometry.
13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the predetermined spatial geometry is formed on a plane once the flexible distal shaft section is moved beyond the exit portal, at least in part, of the guidewire introducer.
14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the predetermined spatial geometry is configured to form into a three-dimensional formation once the flexible distal shaft section is moved beyond the exit portal, at least in part, of the guidewire introducer.
15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the predetermined spatial geometry is configured to span into a three-dimensional formation having a square-shaped formation with the piercing stylet pointing towards a shaft guard portion.
16 . An apparatus, comprising:
a medical guidewire assembly configured to be movable, at least in part, through an exit portal of a guidewire introducer, and the exit portal being in fluid communication with an elongated interior channel extending, at least in part, longitudinally along the guidewire introducer, and the exit portal being positionable proximate to a biological wall located within the body of a patient; and
the medical guidewire assembly having a flexible distal shaft section; and
the flexible distal shaft section being configured to extend, at least in part, longitudinally along the elongated interior channel of the guidewire introducer after the flexible distal shaft section is received in, and supported by, the elongated interior channel; and
the flexible distal shaft section also being configured to have a predetermined spatial geometry once the flexible distal shaft section is moved beyond said exit portal, at least in part, from, and unsupported by, the elongated interior channel of the guidewire introducer, wherein the flexible distal shaft section includes a shaft guard portion spaced apart from the piercing stylet device, the shaft guard portion being configured to shield the piercing stylet device when the predetermined spatial geometry is formed; and
the medical guidewire assembly having a piercing stylet device extending from the flexible distal shaft section; and
the piercing stylet device being configured to puncture the biological wall of the patient in response to placement of the exit portal of the guidewire introducer, in use, proximate to the biological wall of the patient, and movement of the flexible distal shaft section through the exit portal toward the biological wall; and
the predetermined spatial geometry of the flexible distal shaft section being configured to prevent, at least in part, physical contact between the piercing stylet device and adjacently positioned tissue of the patient in response to formation of the predetermined spatial geometry by further movement of the flexible distal shaft section through the exit portal of the guidewire introducer after the biological wall is punctured by the piercing stylet device, wherein the predetermined spatial geometry forms a closed loop arrangement and causes the piercing stylet device to make physical contact with the shaft guard portion;
wherein the predetermined spatial geometry forms the closed loop arrangement configured to prevent a straight line from being drawn to the piercing stylet device without first contacting another portion of the predetermined spatial geometry.
17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the flexible distal shaft section is configured to become fully relaxed and unsupported by the elongated interior channel of the guidewire introducer in response to progress of the flexible distal shaft section beyond the exit portal, from the elongated interior channel.
18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the predetermined spatial geometry is configured to be biased to lie on, and extend along, a single planar surface in response to progress of the flexible distal shaft section beyond the exit portal, from the elongated interior channel.
19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the piercing stylet device is positionable fully inside the left atrium of the patient; and the predetermined spatial geometry is in a relaxed configuration in such a way that the predetermined spatial geometry of the flexible distal shaft section, in use, prevents physical contact between the piercing stylet device and any adjacently positioned tissue.
20 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the predetermined spatial geometry is configured to span into a three-dimensional formation having a square-shaped formation with the piercing stylet pointing towards the shaft guard portion.