Guidewires with Variable Rigidity

Abstract

Guidewires are disclosed being configured to achieve variable rigidity to facilitate percutaneous exploration and the traversal of overlying elements such as catheters, for instance in performing the Seldinger technique. Embodiments of guidewires comprise sheaths and cores configured to be tightened together to achieve stiffness of the guidewire. Embodiments further include cores having an axial passage, along with one or more sections capable of independent activation to achieve variable rigidity. Embodiments also include guidewires comprising combinations of solid, wound metallic, or polymeric coils, or woven meshes, with attached or detached polymer coatings. Cores may be configured to increase or decrease pressure, pass acoustic, ultrasonic or other mechanical energy, pass one or more metallic cores to interact with the distal mechanical elements, or as a channel to pass wires to activate the distal materials in the sections and distal tip.

1 . A wire device, the wire device having a section comprising:
 an inner element; and   an outer element, the outer element arranged about the inner element, wherein the inner element and outer element are adapted to interact in at least two configurations, the first configuration having the inner element and outer element coupled together to restrict the lateral movement of the inner element with respect to the outer element.   
     
     
         2 . The wire device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner element comprises a plurality of wires. 
     
     
         3 . The wire device of  claim 1 , further comprising a sheath arranged about the outer element. 
     
     
         4 . The wire device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner element and outer element of the second configuration are more radially proximate than in the first configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The wire device of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for transforming from the first configuration to the second configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The wire device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer element defines an interior region and an exterior region, and wherein the outer element is adapted to sustain pressure differentials between the interior region and the exterior region. 
     
     
         7 . The wire device of  claim 6 , wherein a first pressure differential is associated with the first configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The wire device of  claim 6 , wherein a first pressure differential is associated with the second configuration. 
     
     
         9 . A system for stiffening a wire device, the system comprising:
 an inner element;   an outer element; and   a means for causing the inner element and the outer element to interact to restrict the movement of the inner element with respect to the outer element.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the inner element comprises a plurality of threads. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of threads are arranged in a defined pattern. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the outer element comprises a coil. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the interaction comprises the coil tightening around the inner element. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the outer element comprises a sheath. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a means for causing the inner element and the outer element to decrease their interaction. 
     
     
         16 . A method for using a device having an inner element and an outer element, the method comprising:
 threading the device into an area, wherein the inner element is configured to be able to move laterally with respect to the outer element;   activating the device, wherein activation causes the inner element to interact with the outer element to restrict the lateral movement of the inner element with respect to the outer element.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein activating the device comprises tightening the outer element to the inner element. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein activating the device comprises tightening the inner element to the outer element. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the outer element comprises a coil. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the outer element comprises a sheath adapted to maintain a pressure differential.