Baxter International Inc.

Lake Region Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Michael C Schiffer

Sheryl W Higgins

Scott Evans

Joseph F Fleischhaker, Jr

An extendable guidewire system including a guidewire and extension wire bearing separate helical coil connectors. The coil connectors, at least in part, have spatially separate adjacent coil turns, thereby providing gaps for receiving coil turns of the other connector.

Guidewire extension system with coil connectors

A rapid exchange over-the-wire catheter is disclosed provided with one or more breakaway elements for progressively exposing the guide wire from the proximal end toward the distal end of the catheter in a simple and efficient manner. The breakaway element may be formed as a longitudinally aligned pull strip provided in the catheter guidewire lumen or as one or more linearly arrayed tubular breakaway segments in the catheter shaft or as a combination of both features.

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Laguna Hills,, CA, United States of America

Michael C Schiffer