Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.

Abbott Laboratories Corporation

Emmanuel C Biagtan

David H Burkett

Wayne E Cornish

Mark Richardson

David M Anderson

Marc Mehrzad Jalisi

Stephen D Pacetti

Daryush Mirzaee

Olin J Palmer

James M Jacobs

Douglas H Gesswein

Kent C Stalker

Robert C Esselstein

John Schreiner

Lawrence E Brennan

Jeong Soo Lee

Kenneth L Wantink

Alan A Tannier

John Arthur Simpson

Peter J D'Aquanni

Travis Richard Yribarren

Brandon Gosiengfiao

Pablito Buan

Sharon Wong

Carl P Frick

John J Nelson, Iii

Michelle E Alexander

Arthur R Tyre

Jessica M Saenz

Shruti Bajaj

Robert J Peralta

A color coding is applied to medical guide wires by coloring portions of the guide wire to distinguish similar guide wires and guide wire portions from a particular manufacturer. The metallic elongate core can be colored using various methods such as electrochemical processes, sputtering, electroplating, and laser inducing microstructures to alter the surface characteristics of the elongate metallic core. Alternatively, the outer layer of the guide wire can be color coded by using non-standard colors or by introducing a colored band on the guide wire.

Color coded guide wire and methods of making same

An improved intracorporeal device such as a guide wire or other guiding member for use within a patient's body that is at least in part visible under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but is not detrimentally affected by the imaging is disclosed. The intracorporeal device has a non-conductive proximal core section, an essentially non-magnetic metallic distal core section that is preferably more flexible than the proximal core section, and that has an MRI visible member or coil in the distal section.

Guide wire and method of making same

A guidewire or section thereof, that has a core member or the like with a plurality of contiguous tapered segments having taper angles that are configured to produce a linear change in stiffness over a longitudinal portion of the device. The device may also have a core section with a continuously changing taper angle to produce a curvilinear profile that is configured to produce a linear change in stiffness of the core over a longitudinal portion of the device. An embodiment has a plurality of radiopaque elements that may be intermittent, continuous or in the form of a helical ribbon for scaled measurement of intracorporeal structure under fluoroscopic imaging. Another embodiment has at least one layer of polymer over the distal end of the device.

Polymer coated guidewire

A guidewire or section thereof, that has a core member or the like with a plurality of contiguous tapered segments having taper angles that are configured to produce a linear change in stiffness over a longitudinal portion of the device. The device may also have a core section with a continuously changing taper angle to produce a curvilinear profile that is configured to produce a linear change in stiffness of the core over a longitudinal portion of the device. An embodiment has a plurality of radiopaque elements that may be intermittent, continuous or in the form of a helical ribbon for scaled measurement of intracorporeal structure under flouroscopic imaging. Another embodiment has at least one layer of polymer over the distal end of the device.

Polymer coated guide wire

The invention is an elongate intracorporeal member having a polymer jacket secured to a high strength shaft with the polymer jacket having an outer layer of polymeric material and an inner layer formed of polymeric adhesive. In one embodiment, a balloon catheter has a proximal high strength tubular section with a polymer jacket having an polymeric outer layer and an adhesive polymer inner layer. In another embodiment, a guidewire has an elongate core with polymer jacket disposed about at least a portion of the elongate core, wherein the polymer jacket comprises a polymeric outer layer an inner layer of polymeric adhesive disposed between and bonding the outer layer to the elongate core.

Polymer jacket with adhesive inner layer

An improved intracorporeal device such as a guide wire or other guiding member for use within a patient's body that is at least in part visible under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but is not detrimentally affected by the imaging is disclosed. The intercorporeal device has a non-conductive proximal core section, an essentially non-magnetic metallic distal core section that is preferably more flexible than the proximal core section, and that has an MRI visible member or coil in the distal section.

MRI compatible guide wire

A method and apparatus for applying a polymer coating on an elongated substrate, preferably an elongate intracorporeal device in the form of a guidewire. An extrudable polymer cartridge is moved by a cartridge advancement mechanism into a guide chamber which is heated at an end with a die or orifice through which a desired portion of a guidewire may pass and be coated. Parameters such as guide chamber temperature, pull speed and force exerted by the cartridge advancement mechanism may be controlled with a computer program in order to achieve repeatable results. The guide chamber, extrudable polymer cartridge, die, and push tube may all be made from polymer components which can be reused or disposed of after a single use. The extrudable polymer cartridge may have a variety of configurations including multiple layers of different materials, eccentric shapes, multiple lumens for multiple elements to be drawn through and coated and asymmetric disposition of different materials with respect to the longitudinal axis as viewed in a transverse cross section which can give bending properties having a preferred direction in the coated guidewire or device.

Method and apparatus for polymer application to intracorporeal device

A guidewire having a flexible coil with a tapered distal tip. Preferably, the flexible coil has a polymer coating at least at its tapered distal portion. The polymer coating may comprise polyurethanes or other suitable polymers. The guidewires of the invention provide desirable performance characteristics, particularly when used to cross relatively tight lesions such as chronic total occlusions.

Guidewire with tapered distal coil

An intraluminal device having an adhesive primer coat formed of a carbonaceous material and a lubricious top coat of a hydrophilic polymeric material. The invention also comprises the methods of making such intraluminal devices. The primer coat of the invention may comprise pure carbon, or a carbon based material such as a polymer. Preferably, the primer coat has a thickness of about 0.1 to about 2 &mgr;m. In a presently preferred embodiment, the primer coat is applied using chemical vapor deposition (CVD), but in certain embodiments, physical vapor deposition (PVD) may be suitable. The deposited primer coat forms an effective substrate for adhesion of the hydrophilic polymer top coat.

Guidewires having a vapor deposited primer coat

The invention is directed to a guide wire having at least two different polymeric jackets that impart different handling characteristics to the portions of the guide wire they surround. Preferably, the guide wire may have jackets of different grades of polymer, such as polyurethane 55D and 90A. Alternatively, the guide wire may have jackets of different types of polymers such as polyurethane and polytetrafluoroethylene, or may have a single polymeric jacket with continuously varying properties along its length. The invention also comprises methods of making such guide wires.

Guide wire with multiple polymer jackets over distal and intermediate core sections

Growing community of inventors

Temecula, CA, United States of America

Emmanuel C Biagtan