Guidewire apparatus for temporary distal embolic protection

Abstract

A guidewire apparatus for use during percutaneous catheter interventions, such as angioplasty or stent deployment. A protection element comprising a filter or an occluder is mounted near the distal end of a steerable guidewire, which guides a therapeutic catheter. The guidewire apparatus comprises a hollow shaft movably disposed about a core wire and, optionally, a slippery liner interfitted there between. The shaft and core wire control relative displacement of the ends of the protection element, causing transformation of the protection element between a deployed configuration and a collapsed configuration.

1 - 13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . The guidewire apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the torque-transmitting element is a filamentous tube having proximal and distal ends and a variable length to permit longitudinal displacement between the shaft and the core wire, the tube disposed about the core wire distal end at a location extending from the shaft distal end towards the tip member, the tube proximal end being fixed to the shaft distal end and the tube distal end fixedly connected to a proximal end of the tip member.  
   
   
       15 . The guidewire apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the torque-transmitting element is a filamentous tube having proximal and distal ends and a variable length to permit longitudinal displacement between the shaft and the core wire, the tube disposed about the core wire distal end at a location extending from the shaft distal end towards the tip member, the tube proximal end being fixed to the shaft distal end and the tube distal end fixedly connected to the core wire adjacent to a proximal end of the tip member.  
   
   
       16 . The guidewire apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the torque-transmitting element comprises a flat formed on the core wire and a corresponding dimple formed in the hollow shaft, the dimple being slidingly engaged with the flat to permit longitudinal displacement between the shaft and the core wire, the dimple being keyed with the flat for transmitting rotation forces from the hollow shaft to the core wire.  
   
   
       17 - 46 . (canceled)  
   
   
       47 . A guidewire apparatus comprising: 
 an elongate hollow shaft having an inner wall and proximal and distal ends;    a core wire movably disposed within the shaft and having a distal end extending there from;    a torque-transmitting element capable of transmitting rotation force from the hollow shaft to the core wire;    a flexible tip member fixed about the core wire distal end, and    a generally tubular protection element having a distal end coupled to the tip member and a proximal end coupled adjacent the shaft distal end, wherein relative longitudinal movement between the distal and proximal ends of the protection element accompanies a transformation of the protection element between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.    
   
   
       48 . The guidewire apparatus of  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 a liner interfitted between the core wire and the shaft inner wall, the liner having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein at least one of the surfaces has a low coefficient of friction.    
   
   
       49 . The guidewire apparatus of  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 a transition sleeve being slidably disposed about the shaft distal end and extending distally there from such that a sleeve distal end surrounds and couples with a proximal portion of the tip member, wherein the tubular protection element distal end is fixed to the transition sleeve.    
   
   
       50 . The guidewire apparatus of  claim 49  wherein the transition sleeve distal end is fixedly coupled with the tip member proximal portion.  
   
   
       51 . The guidewire apparatus of  claim 49  wherein the sleeve distal end is slidingly coupled about the tip member and restrained by stop members from sliding proximally off of the tip member.  
   
   
       52 . The guidewire apparatus of  claim 47  wherein the protection element is a filter.  
   
   
       53 . The guidewire apparatus of  claim 47  wherein the protection element is an occluder.