Method and apparatus for loading a guidewire into a connector with a valve

Abstract

A guidewire introducer for loading a guidewire into a connector with a valve. The guidewire introducer having a proximal end, a distal end and a slit along a length of the guidewire introducer between the proximal end and the distal end. The guidewire introducer is sufficiently rigid to create a passageway to allow the guidewire introducer to get past the valve without collapsing and wherein the slit closes when the guidewire introducer is inserted into the valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A guidewire introducer for loading a guidewire into a connector with a valve, the guidewire introducer comprising:
 a guidewire introducer having a proximal end, a distal end and a slit along an entire length of the guidewire introducer between the proximal end and the distal end;   the guidewire introducer being sufficiently rigid to create a passageway to allow the guidewire introducer to get past the valve without collapsing and wherein the slit closes when the guidewire introducer is inserted into the valve; and   the guidewire introducer being removable from the guidewire using the slit in the guidewire introducer without requiring the guidewire introducer to be slid or threaded over a length of the guidewire to a proximal end of the guidewire.   
     
     
         2 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the guidewire introducer is tapered. 
     
     
         3 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 1 , wherein the connector includes a distal end and the distal end is connected to a guide catheter. 
     
     
         4 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 1 , wherein advancing the guidewire through the guidewire introducer and through the connector further comprises advancing the guidewire into a guide catheter. 
     
     
         5 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the guidewire is flexible. 
     
     
         6 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 1 , wherein the valve in the connector is selected from a group of valves consisting of a hemostasis valve, a bleed-back valve and a portion of a Tuohy Borst adapter. 
     
     
         7 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 1 , wherein the slit has a spiral configuration along the length of the guidewire introducer. 
     
     
         8 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the slit springs open when the guidewire introducer is removed from the valve. 
     
     
         9 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 1 , wherein the guidewire introducer is formed of a material having sufficient compliance to allow the slit to close when the guidewire introducer is inserted into the valve. 
     
     
         10 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 1 , the slit overlaps itself in response to insertion of the guidewire introducer into the valve. 
     
     
         11 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 1 , wherein the guidewire introducer includes a first tapered portion proximate the proximal end and a second tapered portion proximate the distal end, the diameter of the first tapered portion decreasing from the proximal end toward the distal end and the diameter of the second tapered portion decreasing from the proximal distal end of the second tapered portion toward the distal end of the second tapered portion. 
     
     
         12 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 1 , wherein portions of the slit are open, with opposing edges of the portions of the slit being spaced apart and out of mutual contact, prior to the inserting of the guidewire introducer into a proximal end of the connector and wherein positioning of the guidewire introducer into the valve results in the portions of the slit closing. 
     
     
         13 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 12 , wherein the slit closes by overlapping itself in response to insertion of the guidewire introducer into the valve. 
     
     
         14 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 12 , wherein the opposing edges of the portions of the slit are spaced apart by width greater than or equal to a width of the guidewire prior to inserting the guidewire introducer into the proximal end of the connector. 
     
     
         15 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 12 , wherein the valve constricts the portions of the slit to close the slit during introduction of the portions of the slit into the valve. 
     
     
         16 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 12 , wherein the slit closes by overlapping itself in response to insertion of the guidewire introducer into the valve. 
     
     
         17 . A guidewire introducer for loading a guidewire into a connector with a valve, the guidewire introducer comprising:
 a guidewire introducer having a proximal end, a distal end and a slit along a length of the guidewire introducer between the proximal end and the distal end;   wherein the guidewire introducer is sufficiently rigid to create a passageway to allow the guidewire introducer to get past the valve without collapsing and wherein the slit closes when the guidewire introducer is inserted into the valve.   
     
     
         18 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 17 , wherein the guidewire introducer is formed of a material having sufficient compliance to allow at least a portion of the slit to close when the guidewire introducer is inserted into the valve and to spring open when the guidewire introducer is removed from the valve. 
     
     
         19 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 18 , wherein when the slit is open opposing edges of the portions of the slit are spaced apart by a width sufficient to allow a guidewire to be inserted into the passageway through the slit. 
     
     
         20 . The guidewire introducer of  claim 19 , wherein the slit extends along an entire length of the guidewire introducer and wherein the guidewire introducer may be removed from the guidewire using the slit without requiring the guidewire introducer to be slid or threaded over the length of the guidewire to a proximal end of the guidewire.