Guidewire with deflectable tip

Abstract

A bi-directional steerable guidewire having a deflectable distal tip which comprises a longitudinal hypotube and a spring coil attached to the distal end of the hypotube and also includes a longitudinally movable deflection member which is attached to the distal end of the spring coil and a tip retaining member which extends from the distal end of the hypotube to the distal end of the spring coil for providing very precise deflection of the distal tip.

1 . A bi-directional steerable guidewire having a deflectable tip which comprises: 
 an elongated flexible tubing having proximal and distal portions;    a flexible helical coil having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of said helical coil is attached to the distal portion of the flexible tubing;    an elongated deflection member having proximal and distal portions and being slidably disposed within said tubing and within said helical coil, the distal portion of said deflection member being flattened to form a deflection ribbon which extends in a plane;    a retaining ribbon having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the retaining ribbon is attached to the distal portion of the flexible tubing and the retaining ribbon is oriented to extend in a plane which is generally parallel to the plane of the deflection ribbon; and,    an attachment member engaging the distal end of the helical coil, the distal portion of the deflection member and the distal end of the retaining ribbon so that longitudinal movement of the deflection member in a distal direction causes the distal end of the helical coil to be deflected in one direction and longitudinal movement of the deflection member in a proximal direction causes the distal end of the helical coil to deflect in another opposite direction.    
     
     
         2 . A steerable guidewire as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the retaining ribbon and the deflection ribbon are normally biased in an arcuate configuration to thereby cause the distal end of the helical coil to be normally biased in a curved shape.  
     
     
         3 . A steerable guidewire as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion of said deflection member is of a circular cross section which extends from the proximal portion of the flexible tubing to approximately the distal portion of the tubing.  
     
     
         4 . A steerable guidewire as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the proximal end of said retaining ribbon extends from the distal portion of the flexible tubing to approximately the distal end of the flexible helical coil.  
     
     
         5 . A steerable guidewire as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment member takes the form of a rounded bead.  
     
     
         6 . A steerable guidewire as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the rounded bead is formed with an epoxy material.  
     
     
         7 . A steerable guidewire as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment member takes the form of a rounded bead which contacts the distal end of the helical coil to define a circular surface at the distal end of the coil and the deflection ribbon engages the rounded bead at a location offset from the center of the circular surface of the rounded bead.  
     
     
         8 . A steerable guidewire as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the distal end of the retaining ribbon engages the rounded bead at a location offset from the center of the circular surface of the rounded bead.  
     
     
         9 . A bidirectional steerable guidewire having a deflectable tip which comprises: 
 an elongated flexible tubing having proximal and distal portions;    a flexible helical coil having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of said helical coil is attached to the distal portion of the flexible tubing;    an elongated deflection member having proximal and distal portions and being slidably disposed within said tubing and within said helical coil, the distal portion of said deflection member being tapered;    an elongated retaining member having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the retaining member is attached to the distal portion of the flexible tubing; and,    an attachment member engaging the distal end of the helical coil, the deflection member and the distal end of the retaining member so that longitudinal movement of the deflection member in a distal direction causes the distal end of the helical coil to be deflected in one direction and longitudinal movement of the deflection member in a proximal direction causes the distal end of the helical coil to deflect in an opposite direction.    
     
     
         10 . A steerable guidewire as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the retaining member is pre-shaped in an arcuate configuration to thereby cause the flexible helical coil to be normally biased into a curved shape.  
     
     
         11 . A steerable guidewire as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the attachment member takes the form of a rounded bead.  
     
     
         12 . A steerable guidewire having a deflectable tip which comprises: 
 an elongated flexible tubing having proximal and distal portions;    a flexible helical coil having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of said helical coil is attached to the distal portion of the flexible tubing;    an elongated deflection member comprised of proximal and distal portions and being slidably disposed within said tubing and within said helical coil, the proximal portion of the deflection member being of a cylindrical cross section and the distal portion of said deflection member takes the form a deflection ribbon which extends in a plane;    a retaining ribbon having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the retaining ribbon is attached to the distal portion of the flexible tubing and the retaining ribbon is oriented to extend in a plane which is generally parallel to the plane of the deflection ribbon; and,    an attachment member engaging the distal end of the helical coil, the distal portion of the deflection member and the distal end of the retaining ribbon so that longitudinal movement of the deflection member in a distal direction causes the distal end of the helical coil to be deflected in one direction and longitudinal movement of the deflection member in a proximal direction causes the distal end of the helical coil to deflect in another opposite direction.    
     
     
         13 . A steerable guidewire as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the retaining ribbon and the deflection ribbon are normally biased in an arcuate configuration to thereby cause the distal end of the helical coil to be normally biased in a curved shape.  
     
     
         14 . A steerable guidewire as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the distal portion of the deflection member and the deflection ribbon are formed from a wire of a circular cross section and in which the distal portion is flattened to form the deflection ribbon.  
     
     
         15 . A steerable guidewire as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the proximal portion of the elongated flexible tubing is coupled to a control handle and the elongated deflection member is mounted with the control handle for longitudinal movement.  
     
     
         16 . A steerable guidewire as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said control handle includes a movable knob which is coupled to the elongated deflection member for longitudinal positioning of the deflection member.  
     
     
         17 . A bi-directional steerable guidewire having a deflectable tip which comprises: 
 an elongated flexible tubing having proximal and distal portions;    a flexible cylindrical member having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of said cylindrical member is attached to the distal portion of the flexible tubing;    an elongated deflection member having proximal and distal portions and being slidably disposed within said tubing and within said cylindrical member, the distal portion of said deflection member being tapered;    an elongated retaining member having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of the retaining member is attached to the distal portion of the flexible tubing; and,    an attachment member engaging the distal end of the cylindrical member, the deflection member and the distal end of the retaining member so that longitudinal movement of the deflection member in a distal direction causes the distal end of the cylindrical member to be deflected in one direction and longitudinal movement of the deflection member in a proximal direction causes the distal end of the cylindrical member to deflect in an opposite direction.    
     
     
         18 . A steerable guidewire as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the retaining member is pre-shaped in an arcuate configuration to thereby cause the flexible cylindrical member to be normally biased into a curved shape.  
     
     
         19 . A steerable guidewire as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the distal portion of the elongated deflection member takes the form of a thin ribbon which extends in a plane, and said retaining member takes the form of a thin ribbon which is oriented to extend in a plane which is generally parallel to the plane of the deflection ribbon.  
     
     
         20 . A steerable guidewire as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the attachment member takes the form of a rounded bead.