The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 23, 1994
Filed:
Aug. 21, 1991
William A Berthiaume, Hudson, MA (US);
Michel J LeBlanc, Waltham, MA (US);
C.R. Bard, Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
An exchange length guidewire for use in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty is formed in two sections including a proximal section and a distal section. The proximal end of the distal section is rotatably attached to the distal end of the proximal section so that it may be rotated freely with respect to the proximal section. The proximal section may be maintained in a coiled configuration in a storage hoop while the distal portion may be used as a steerable guidewire to assist in navigating a catheter to the intended vascular treatment site. When it is desired to perform a catheter exchange, the proximal section is removed from the storage hoop to permit the wire to extend to its full exchange length, typically slightly more than twice the length of the catheter. The catheter exchange then may be performed. Thereafter, the proximal section of the exchange wire may be reinserted into the storage hoop and while the distal portion may continue to serve as a steerable guidewire.