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:
May. 18, 1999
Filed:
Feb. 26, 1997
John D Unsworth, Ancaster Ontario, CA;
Thomas C Waram, Hamilton On, CA;
Allan G Adelman, Toronto On, CA;
Other;
Abstract
A system for guiding devices or materials into body lumens includes a guidewire made of a shape memory alloy (SMA) or other shape memory material and having a lumen; an energy guide, preferably an optical fiber, received in the lumen; and a catheter or device slidably attached to the guidewire. The guidewire has a memorized shape and is in a martensitic (deformable) state during insertion into the body lumen. During or after insertion of the guidewire into the body lumen, the energy guide produces localized heating of the inner surface of the distal end of the guidewire, to cause the guidewire to at least partially recover its memorized shape, thereby selectively changing the shape, radii of curves, and rigidity of part or all of the guidewire. This selective shaping of the guidewire reduces fouling and facilitates delivery of devices along the guidewire.