Proximal connector for guidewire assembly

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an improved guidewire assembly including a sensor disposed on a distal portion thereof and a proximal connector disposed on a proximal portion thereof for electrically coupling the guidewire assembly to an external device. The proximal connector comprises at least one proximal contact and at least one reflowed insulative element disposed adjacent the at least one proximal contact.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A guidewire assembly comprising:
 a guidewire comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion;   a sensor disposed at the distal portion of the guidewire; and   a proximal connector disposed at the proximal portion of the guidewire, the proximal connector comprising at least one proximal contact and at least one reflowed insulative element disposed adjacent the at least one proximal contact.   
     
     
         2 . The guidewire assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reflowed insulative element comprises nylon. 
     
     
         3 . The guidewire assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reflowed insulative element comprises a first insulative element positioned adjacent a distal end of the at least one proximal contact. 
     
     
         4 . The guidewire assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one proximal contact comprises a first proximal contact, a second proximal contact, and a third proximal contact. 
     
     
         5 . The guidewire assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one reflowed insulative element comprises a first reflowed insulative element, a second reflowed insulative element, and a third reflowed insulative element. 
     
     
         6 . The guidewire assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one electrical cable electrically coupling the at least one proximal contact to an external device.   
     
     
         7 . The guidewire assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal connector further comprises an atraumatic proximal tip. 
     
     
         8 . The guidewire assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the atraumatic proximal tip comprises a cured adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The guidewire assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a pressure, temperature, and/or flow sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The guidewire assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic positioning sensor. 
     
     
         11 . A guidewire comprising:
 a distal portion comprising a sensor;   a shaft portion coupled to the distal portion; and   a proximal connector coupled to the shaft portion, the proximal connector comprising at least one proximal contact and at least one reflowed insulative element disposed adjacent the at least one proximal contact.   
     
     
         12 . The guidewire of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one reflowed insulative element comprises nylon. 
     
     
         13 . The guidewire of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one reflowed insulative element comprises a first insulative element positioned adjacent a distal end of the at least one proximal contact and a second insulative element positioned adjacent a proximal end of the at least one proximal contact to electrically insulate the at least one proximal contact. 
     
     
         14 . The guidewire of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one electrical cable electrically coupling the at least one proximal contact to an external device.   
     
     
         15 . The guidewire of  claim 11 , wherein the proximal connector further comprises an atraumatic proximal tip. 
     
     
         16 . A guidewire assembly obtained by a process comprising:
 forming a proximal connector, the proximal connector comprising a first proximal contact and a first insulative element disposed adjacent the first proximal contact;   advancing a heat shrink tube over the proximal connector;   heating the heat shrink tube and the proximal connector to reflow the first insulative element so as to couple the first insulative element to the first proximal contact; and   removing the heat shrink tube from the proximal connector.   
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein forming a proximal connector further comprises disposing a second insulative element adjacent a proximal end of the first proximal contact, and   wherein the process further comprises:
 heating a proximal end of the heat shrink tube and the second insulative element to couple the proximal end of the heat shrink tube and the second insulative element prior to heating the heat shrink tube and the proximal connector. 
   
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein forming a proximal connector further comprises:
 distally advancing each of the first insulative element and the second insulative element over a core wire such that the first insulative element is disposed adjacent the distal end of the first proximal contact and such that the second insulative element is disposed adjacent the proximal end of the first proximal contact.   
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 cutting the core wire adjacent the proximal end of the first proximal contact to remove a proximal portion of the core wire and the second insulative element.   
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 attaching an atraumatic tip to the proximal end of the first proximal contact.