Guidewire extension system

Abstract

A guidewire extension system is disclosed for connecting an extension wire to a guidewire having a tubular outer body, a guidewire retention element, an extension wire retention element, a guidewire and an extension wire. The guidewire retention element and the extension wire retention element are fixed within the outer body and are preferably helically wound wires which form a right-handed groove and a left-handed groove. The guidewire and the extension wire each have tapered ends and a reduced diameter extension core each having a helically wound wire formed to adhere to the extension core. The guidewire is connected to the extension wire by inserting the extension core of the guidewire into the outer tube and inserting the helically wound wire into the right-handed groove and by inserting the extension core of the extension wire into the outer tube and inserting the helically wound wire into the left-handed groove. The outer body is then rotated clockwise to simultaneously pull the extension wire and guidewire together until the tapers of each abut and bear against the outside edge of the outer tube providing a mechanical lock and providing a connection having the same pushability and flexibility as the guidewire. The system provides an extension wire to be connected to a guidewire without rotating the extension wire or the guidewire and provides for a unitized system that has a smooth, outer diameter of the extension wire, guidewire and outer body.