초록 ▼

The present invention provides an apparatus for performing angioplasty or vascular intervention procedures. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a catheter apparatus comprised of a superelastic hollow guidewire, a balloon member and a flexible tip. The superelastic hollow guidewire of th

The present invention provides an apparatus for performing angioplasty or vascular intervention procedures. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a catheter apparatus comprised of a superelastic hollow guidewire, a balloon member and a flexible tip. The superelastic hollow guidewire of the invention is preferably a hypotube of nitinol alloy. The use of nitinol alloy as hollow guidewire provides a catheter apparatus having high flexibility and torqueability as well as small cross sectional diameter.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [15.]15. A medical guidewire adapted to have a medical device ride over it to a location within a patient, said guidewire comprising:an elongate body having distal and proximal sections, said body being at least partially constructed from a transformation, non-linear, superela

[ What is claimed is:] [15.]15. A medical guidewire adapted to have a medical device ride over it to a location within a patient, said guidewire comprising:an elongate body having distal and proximal sections, said body being at least partially constructed from a transformation, non-linear, superelastic nickel titanium alloy material, at least said distal section of said body exhibits recoverable strain for a given stress;said distal section being constructed from a first nickel titanium alloy section having sufficient flexibility to navigate the guidewire through the patient, said first nickel titanim alloy section exhibiting an unloading plateau stress of not less than about 170 Mpa;said proximal section being constructed from a second nickel titanium alloy section having sufficient stress to provide the guidewire with pushability and trackability for advancing the guidewire through the patient and for riding a medical device over the guidewire; andan occlusion device on said distal section of said body.