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. 17, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 08, 1997
Dignah B Quiachon, Mountain View, CA (US);
Robert A Guziak, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Dennis L Brooks, Windsor, CA (US);
Deepak R Gandhi, San Jose, CA (US);
Mir A Imran, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Roger J Guidi, Los Altos, CA (US);
Intella Interventional Systems, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
Guide wire for use in a medical procedure and for use with a power supply comprising a solid core wire having proximal and distal extremities. The proximal extremity has a predetermined diameter. At least a portion of the distal extremity has a reduced size with respect to the predetermined diameter. A flexible coil is secured to the distal extremity of the core wire and extends over the portion of the core wire having a reduced size. An actuator member is disposed proximal of the coil and extends along the core wire. Electrical conductors extend from the proximal extremity of the core wire to the actuator member for supplying heat to the actuator member. The actuator member is formed of a temperature activated metal alloy having a Young's modulus of 4.times.10.sup.6 to 14.times.10.sup.6 psi which increases in stiffness when heat is supplied thereto to increase the stiffness of the guide wire proximally of the coil.