초록 ▼

A flexible, kink-resistant, low-friction guidewire for positioning a medical instrument through tortuous passageways within a patient is disclosed. The guidewire includes a core wire which remains substantially free of any residual strain when it is positioned within the patient, a metal coil about

A flexible, kink-resistant, low-friction guidewire for positioning a medical instrument through tortuous passageways within a patient is disclosed. The guidewire includes a core wire which remains substantially free of any residual strain when it is positioned within the patient, a metal coil about the core wire and extending substantially the entire length of the core, a primer coating on the coil and a hydrophilic, lubricous coating on the primer coating. The core wire is preferably a superelastic metal alloy such as Nitinol. The metal coil is preferably formed from a wire with a rectangular cross section. The primer is preferably one which reacts with species of isocyanate or hydroxyl, and the hydrophilic, lubricous coating is preferably a cross-linked polymer selected from the group of polyurethane, polyurea, and polyurethaneurea, complexed with a hydrophilic complexing species such as poly(ethylene oxide) or polyvinylpyrrolidone. A method for manufacturing and coating such a guidewire is also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A guide wire for positioning a medical instrument through tortuous passageways within a patient, comprising:a flexible core wire which remains substantially free of any residual strain when positioned within the patient; a metal coil enveloping the core wire for substantially its entire lengths,

1. A guide wire for positioning a medical instrument through tortuous passageways within a patient, comprising:a flexible core wire which remains substantially free of any residual strain when positioned within the patient; a metal coil enveloping the core wire for substantially its entire lengths, the core wire being positioned off-center within the coil; a primer coating on the metal coil; and a hydrophilic, lubricous coating disposed over the primer coating.