Claims
- 1. A process for making a cable adapted for medical usage, comprising helically winding wires into inner and outer coils with the outer coil in its relaxed non-assembled condition to have an outer coil inner diameter and of an outer diameter for use in a vascular vessel and the inner coil in its relaxed non-assembled condition to have a hollow lumen and an inner coil outer diameter that is larger than the outer coil inner diameter and the adjacent helices of the respective coil in contact with one another, applying an unwinding force to the outer coil to partially unwind the outer coil to have an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the inner coil, relatively moving the inner coil and the thus partially unwound outer coil to have the inner coil surrounded by the outer coil and its convolutions wound in the opposite direction from that of the outer coil, and removing the unwinding force from the outer coil to allow the outer coil to contract to form an interference fit with the inner coil, the coils being wound to have distal and proximal ends and being formed to and being in interference relationship to provide a substantially 1 to 1 transfer of torque from the proximal ends of the coils to their distal ends, regardless to the direction of rotation of the coils after they are in interference fitting relationship.
- 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the inner coil in the interference fitting relationship is throughout at least substantially its entire length free of interior structure.
- 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the winding of each coil includes winding a plurality of wires about a central axis of the respective coil to be of about the same radial spacing from the respective axis and each convolution of each wire for the respective coil is axially between adjacent convolutions of another wire of the same coil, that each wire is cleaned before winding into the respective coil, and each coil is cleaned prior to applying the unwinding force.
- 4. The process of claim 1 wherein the coils in their interference fitting relationship have axially adjacent proximal and distal end portions, the steps of joining proximal and distal connectors to the coils proximal and distal end portions respectively and connecting one of the connectors to a prime mover and the other to a medical pump to place the medical pump in driven relationship to the prime mover.
- 5. The process of claim 1 further characterized in that prior to the unwinding the outer coil, the steps of partially unwinding the inner coil, inserting a guide wire core wire into the partially unwound inner coil, the inner diameter of the inner coil in its relaxed condition being less than the diameter of at least the major portion of the axial length of the core wire, and after the insertion of the core wire, allowing the inner coil to contract to form an interference fit with the core wire, the outer coil in interference fitting relationship with the inner coil being of an outer diameter that is the same as that of a vascular system guide wire whereby a steerable guide wire is formed by the above steps.
- 6. The process of claim 1 wherein the coils in their interference fitting relationship have proximal end portions and distal end portions, the steps of attaching a guide wire bead to the distal ends of the coils and prior to or after joining the bead to the distal ends of the coils, forming the distal end portions of the coils in their interference fitting relationship to resiliently assume an arcuately curved shape extending through a first arcuate angle relative to the remainder of the coils while being bendable to arcuately extend through a second arcuate angle that is substantially smaller than the first arcuate angle and providing a core wire extendable with the inner coil for forcing the distal end portions of the coils from their first arcuate angle to their second arcuate angle.
- 7. The process of claim 1 wherein there is provided a guide wire main wire having a distal end, a proximal end and an axially elongated cylindrical portion extending axially between the main wire ends, and the inner coil inner diameter in the inner coil relaxed condition is less than the diameter of the cylinder portion, comprising prior to moving the inner coil to have the inner coil surrounded by the outer coil, partially unwinding the inner coil to have the inner coil inner diameter larger than the diameter of the cylinder portion, thence extending the cylinder portion into the inner coil, allowing the partially unwound inner coil to contract to form a press fit with the cylinder portion and after allowing the outer coil to form an interference fit with the inner coil, providing a guide wire distal tip joined to the main wire distal end and the distal end of at least the outer coil.
- 8. The process of claim 1 wherein the coils in their interference fitting relationship have proximal end portions and distal end portions, the steps of attaching a medical subassembly to the proximal end portion.
- 9. The process of claim 8 wherein the control member includes a finger grip member and a manipulator member mounted by and movable relative to the finger grip member, that the medical subassembly includes a connector and an operable medical device mounted by and movable relative to the connector, further characterized in, indifferent order, mounting the finger grip member to the proximal end portions of the coils, mounting the connector to the distal end portions of the coils and extending a core member through the inner coil and connecting the core member to the manipulator member and the medical device whereby the medical device is operable by moving the manipulator relative to the finger grip member.
- 10. The process of claim 1 wherein the outer coil and inner coil have distal and proximal end portions and respectively have radial outer and radial inner coil portions, the steps of providing a tubular plastic coating to at least one of the outer coil portion to extend radially outwardly thereof and the inner coil portion to extend radially inwardly thereof for extending at least substantially the axial length of the coils.
- 11. The process of claim 10 wherein a catheter fitting is fixed to the proximal ends of the coils to form a catheter and that the plastic coating extends axially more remote from the fitting than the proximal end portions of the coils.
- 12. The process of claim 10 wherein the plastic coating step comprises joining a radially inner plastic tubular portion within the inner coil that extends at least substantially the entire length of the inner coil and has a generally smooth, circumferential surface throughout at least its entire length, and that a luer fitting is joined to the proximal end portions of the coils to form a catheter.
- 13. The process of claim 10 wherein the plastic coating step comprises providing a radially outer plastic tubular portion on the outer coil to extend radially outwardly thereof and at least substantially the length of the outer coil to have a generally smooth, circumferential outer surface, and that a luer fitting is joined to the proximal end portions of the coils to form a catheter.
- 14. A process for making medical apparatus, comprising helically winding a first coil to have adjacent helices in abutting relationship and be of a given inner peripheral diameter and a given outer diameter in a relaxed non-assembled condition, helically winding a second coil to have adjacent helices in abutting relationship, an outer peripheral diameter of a maximum of about {fraction (1/16)}″ and an inner peripheral diameter that is less than the first coil outer peripheral diameter in a relaxed non-assembled condition, the winding step including winding the coils to have distal and proximal end portions, applying an unwinding force to the second coil to increase the second coil non-assembled inner diameter, moving the first coil into the second coil while the unwinding force is being applied to the second coil with the coils wound in opposite directions, and thereafter removing the unwinding force to allow the second coil to form an inteference fit with the inner coil to form a hollow lumen cable having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the coils being wound and in interference relationship to provide a substantially 1 to 1 transfer of torque from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion, regardless of the direction of rotation of the cable.
- 15. The process of claim 14 further characterized in mounting a first connector on the cable proximal end portion, mounting a second connector on the cable distal end portion, connecting the first connector to a prime mover for being rotated thereby, and connecting the second connector to a blood pump for driving the blood pump.
- 16. The process of claim 14 wherein the outer and inner coils have distal and proximal ends and respectively have outer and radial inner coil portions, characterized in that the step of providing a plastic tubular portion to at least one of the outer and inner coil portions to extend radially outwardly and radially inwardly of the respective outer and inner coil portion and to extend at least nearly the entire axial length of the coils, and attaching a luer fitting to the proximal ends of the coils to form a catheter.
- 17. The process of claim 14 further characterized in mounting a manually operated control member on the cable proximal end portion and a medical subassembly on the cable distal end portion.
- 18. The process of claim 14 wherein the control member includes a hand grip portion and a manipulator portion movably mounted by the the hand grip portion, that the medical subassembly includes a mounting part and an operable part mounted for movement relative to the mounting part and movement therewith and that a core member is provided, further characterized in that in indifferent order, joining the hand grip portion to the cable proximal end portion, joining the mounting part to the cable distal end portion and extending the core member through the cable inner coil and joining the core member to the manipulator part and the operable part.
- 19. The process of claim 18 wherein each of the coils is multifilar.
- 20. The process of claim 18 further characterized in that the operable part is a body tissue scraper part.
- 21. Medical apparatus comprising a hollow lumen cable having an axially elongated first helically wound coil that has distal and proximal end portions, an outer peripheral diameter, a central axis and a plurality of helices that throughout the axial length of the first coil are of substantially the same radial spacing from the first coil central axis, and an axially elongated second helically wound coil that has distal and proximal end portions, an inner peripheral diameter, a central axis and a plurality of helices that throughout the axial length of the second coil are of substantially the same radial spacing from the second coil central axis, the first coil being within the second coil in interference fitting relationship with the second coil throughout substantially its entire axial length, having its end portions adjacent to the corresponding end portions of the second coil, being oppositely wound from the winding of the second coil and providing a hollow lumen from one of its end portions to the other, the second coil outer peripheral diameter being of a maximum of about {fraction (1/16)}″, the coils being wound and in interference fitting relationship to transmit torque in a substantially 1 to 1 ratio from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion regardless of the direction of the rotational force applied to one of the end portions of the coils, each coil comprising a single layer of at least a first and a second helically wound wire with each helix of each wire being axially between a pair of adjacent helices of a second wire, other than at the ends of the coils, and having its helices of the same pitch throughout its axial length.
- 22. The apparatus of claim 21 further characterized in that it includes a motor connected to the proximal end portions of the coils for rotating the coils and an implantable pump that is adapted for being mounted in a human body and driven by the coils.
- 23. The apparatus of claim 21 further characterized in that a guide wire bead is joined to the distal ends of the coils, that the distal end portions of the coils having a generally J-shaped relaxed condition and being at least partially straightenable to extend arcuately through a substantially smaller arcuate angle than when in the J-shape while resiliently attempting to resume their J-shape, and an axially elongated guide wire core wire having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion and being extendable into the inner coil to force the distal end portions of the coils to extend through the smaller arcuate angle than when in their the J-shape, the core wire being of an axial length to have its distal end portion extended into the inner coil distal end portion while its proximal end portion extends axially more remote from the bead than the proximal end portions of the coils.
- 24. The apparatus of claim 23 further characterized in that a handle section is joined to the core wire proximal end portion and that there is provided an axially elongated handle assembly for operating the core wire between a position that the core wire is axially out of the distal end portion of the coils and an extended position to straighten the distal end portions of the coils, the handle assembly including proximal and distal main body members that each have distal and proximal end portions, the proximal end portion of the distal main body member and the distal end portion of the proximal main body member mounting one relative to the other for axial movement, the main body members having coaxially aligned bores extending axially therethrough and of a diameter to have the handle section and core wire extend thereinto, the proximal main body member end portion and the distal main body member distal end portion defining clamping end portions that are movable to a clamping position, first and second means mounted on the respective clamping end portion for limited axial movement relative to the respective end portion to operate them to their clamping positions to clampingly hold the handle section and the coil proximal end portion respectively and means for limiting the relative axial movement of the main body members when clampingly engaging the handle section and the coil proximal end portions between the core wire extended position and a position that the core wire is withdrawn from the distal end portions of the coils.
- 25. The apparatus of claim 21 further characterized in that it includes a manually held control member connected to the coils end portions and a medical subassembly mounted to the coils distal end portions for performing a medical procedure within a human body.
- 26. The apparatus of claim 25 further characterized in that the medical subassembly comprises operable forcep members and a mounting member mounted to the coils distal end portions for mounting the forcep members for movement therewith and relative thereto, that the control finger member comprises a finger grip member fixedly attached to the coils proximal end portions, and a manually operated manipulator movably attached to the finger grip member and that a core member for operating the forcep members when the manipulator is moved relative to the finger grip member has one end portion attached to the manipulator, an opposite end portion attached to the forcep members and an intermediate portion extending within the first coil hollow lumen.
- 27. The apparatus of claim 21 further characterized in that there is provided a guide wire main wire having a proximal end, a distal end and an axially elongated cylindrical portion axially located between the main wire ends and extending within the inner coil, and a guide wire distal tip joined to at least the main wire and outer coil distal ends, the inner coil and the cylindrical portion being in press fitting relaship through at least the major part of the axial length of the cylindrical portion.
- 28. The apparatus of claim 27 further characterized in that the main wire has an axially elongated second portion joined to the cylindrical portion and to the distal tip, the inner coil being of an inner diameter to provide an annular structural free clearance space between the main wire second portion from adjacent the juncture of the cylindrical portion and the second main wire portion to at least closely adjacent to the inner coil and including to the distal tip.
- 29. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the cable has inner and outer peripheral wall portions extending the axial length thereof and there is provided generally tubular resilient means joined to at least one of the inner and outer peripheral wall portions to respectively extend radially inwardly and outwardly of the peripheral wall portion to which it is joined to extend at least nearly the axial length thereof for forming a catheter tube.
- 30. The apparatus of claim 29 further characterized in that the resilient means includes a tubular portion that extends at least nearly the entire axial length of the coils, including axially more remote from the coils proximal ends than the their distal ends and that a catheter luer fitting is joined to the proximal ends of the coils.
- 31. The apparatus of claim 29 further characterized in that the tubular portion is joined to the inner coil inner peripheral wall portion and that the fitting and tubular portion have adjacent ends of substantially the same inner diameters.
- 32. The apparatus of claim 29 further characterized in that the tubular portion is joined to the outer coil outer peripheral wall portion and has an angioplasty guide catheter curved part axially more remote from the coils proximal ends than the distal ends of the coils.
- 33. A process for making a guide wire, comprising helically winding inner and outer coils with the outer coil in its relaxed non-assembled condition having an outer coil inner diameter and the inner coil in its relaxed non-assembled condition to have a hollow lumen, distal ends and an inner coil outer diameter that is larger than the outer coil inner diameter and the adjacent helices of the respective coil in contact with one another, applying a force to the outer coil to partially unwind the outer coil to have an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the inner coil, relatively moving the inner coil and the thus partially unwound outer coil to have the inner coil surrounded by the outer coil and its convolution wound in the opposite direction from that to the outer coil, and removing the unwinding force from the outer coil to allow the outer coil to contract to form an interference fit with the inner coil, the outer coil has an outer diameter that is the same as the outer diameter of a vascular system coiled guide wire, extending an axially elongated guide wire main wire having a distal end into the inner coil and joining the main wire distal tip to at least one of the outer coil and the inner coil.
- 34. The process of claim 33 further characterized in that each coil has a distal end portion including the respective coil distal end, and that the main wire has a proximal cylindrical portion, an intermediate portion joined to the cylindrical portion, and a distal end portion that is joined to the intermediate portion and the inner and outer coils distal portions, the joining of the inner coil to the main wire including joining the coils proximal ends to the main wire adjacent to the juncture of the main wire cylindrical and intermediate portions, the main wire cylindrical portion being of a substantially greater axial length than the combined lengths of the main wire intermediate and distal portions, that the cylindrical portion has a proximal terminal end, that each coil has a proximal terminal end and a distal terminal end, and that the cylindrical proximal terminal end is substantially more remotely spaced from the inner and outer coils proximal terminal ends than the inner and outer coils distal terminal ends are from the inner and outer coils proximal terminal ends.
- 35. The process of claim 34 further characterized in that the main wire intermediate portion includes a frustoconical part having major base integrally joined to the cylindrical portion and a minor base joined to the main wire distal portion, that the outer coil is wound to have its outer diameter substantially the same as the cylindrical portion outer peripheral surface, that there is provided a guide wire distal tip that is joined to at least one of the outer coil distal end portion and to a third coil that in turn is joined to the outer coil distal end portion for being axially remote from the main wire distal portion, and that the first mentioned joining step includes joining the outer coil and the distal terminal portion of the inner coil to the main wire adjacent to its distal portion.
- 36. The process of claim 33 wherein the main wire is of a maximum diameter that is substantially smaller than the inner coil inner diameter, that each of the main wire and coils has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, and that the joining step comprises securing a guide wire proximal to the proximal end portion of the coils and main wire, and joining a guide wire distal end portion to the distal end portions of the coils.
- 37. The process of claim 36 wherein the main wire has an axially intermediate portion that is tapered and has a major base integrally joined to the main wire proximal end portion and a minor base integrally joined to the main wire distal end portion.
- 38. The process of claim 37 wherein a safety wire is provided within the inner coil and has one end joined to the distal tip, and an opposite end joined to the inner coil proximal end portion, and that the main wire distal end portion is of a diameter substantially smaller than the inner coil inner diameter and is joined to the distal tip.
- 39. A process for making medical apparatus, comprising helically winding a first coil to have adjacent helices in abutting relationship and be of a given inner peripheral diameter and a given outer diameter in a relaxed non-assembled condition, helically winding a second coil to have adjacent helices in abutting relationship, an outer peripheral diameter of a maximum of about {fraction (1/16)}″ and an inner peripheral diameter that is less than the first coil outer peripheral diameter in a relaxed non-assembled condition, the winding step including winding the coils to have distal and proximal end portions, applying an unwinding force to the second coil to increase the second coil non-assembled inner diameter, moving the first coil into the second coil while the unwinding force is being applied to the second coil with the coils wound in opposite directions, and thereafter removing the unwinding force to allow the second coil to form an interference fit with the inner coil to form a hollow lumen cable having a a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, and joining the guide wire tip to the cable distal end portion to extend distally of the cable distal end portion.
- 40. Medical apparatus comprising an axially elongated guide wire main wire having a proximal cylindrical portion, an axially elongated distal end portion that in transverse cross section is substantially smaller than that of the cylindrical portion and an axial intermediate portion having a first end integrally joined to the cylindrical portion and a second end integrally joined to the main wire distal end portion, an axially elongated inner coil having convolutions in abutting relationship, a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, an inner peripheral diameter larger than the major transverse dimension of the main wire distal end portion and an outer peripheral diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical portion, an axially elongated outer coil having convolutions in abutting relationship, a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, an inner peripheral diameter along the major portion of the outer coil's length to form an interference fit with the inner coil, and an outer peripheral diameter that is substantially the same as that of the proximal cylindrical portion, the inner coil extending within the outer coil, first means for joining the coils proximal end portions to the main wire intermediate portion, second means axially spaced from the first means for joining the inner coil distal end portion and the radially adjacent part of the outer coil to at least one of the main wire intermediate and distal end portions, a guide wire distal tip and helically wound coil means for mounting the guide wire distal tip to the second means in axially spaced relationship to the second means and on the axially opposite side of the second means from the first means, the outer coil being wound in the opposite direction from the inner coil.
- 41. The apparatus of claim 40 further characterized in that the wound coil means comprises an outer coil portion and that the main wire intermediate portion includes a tapered part that has a major base joined to the cylindrical portion and a minor base and means joining the minor base to the main wire distal end portion, the outer coil portion mounting the distal tip, the outer coil including a second axial portion that is joined to the first and second means and is integrally joined to the first mentioned outer coil portion.
- 42. The apparatus of claim 40 further characterized in that the wound coil means comprises a third coil having a proximal end joined to the second means and a distal end portion joined to the distal guide tip.
- 43. The apparatus of claim 40 further characterized in that the main wire intermediate portion includes a first frustoconical portion having a major base joined to the first cylindrical portion and a minor base, a second cylindrical portion having one end joined to the first frustoconical portion minor base and an opposite end, and a second frustoconical portion having a major base joined to the opposite end of the second cylindrical portion and a minor base joined to the main wire distal end portion, the main wire distal end portion being joined to the guide wire distal tip, the second means being joined to at least one of the main wire distal and second frustoconical portions.
- 44. Medical apparatus comprising a hollow lumen cable having an axially elongated first helically wound coil that has distal and proximal end portions, an outer peripheral diameter, a center axis and a plurality of helices that throughout the axial length of the first coil are of substantially the same radial spacing from the first coil central axis, and an axially elongated second helically wound coil that has a distal and a proximal end portion, an inner peripheral diameter, a central axis and a plurality of helices that throughout the axial length of the second coil are of substantially the same radial spacing from the second coil central axis, the first coil being within the second coil in interference fitting relationship with the second coil throughout nearly its entire axial length, having its end portions adjacent to the corresponding end portions of the second coil and being oppositely wound from the winding of the second coil, the second coil outer diamter being that of a coiled vascular guide wire, an axially elongated guide wire main wire extended into the first coil and having a part radially adjacent the proximal end portion of the coils joined to at least one of the coils proximal end portions in fixed axial relationship relative thereto.
- 45. The apparatus of claim 44 further characterized in that the main wire part is an axially elongated cylindrical portion, that the proximal end of at least one coil is joined to the main wire part by inner coil distal end portion being in press fitting relationship with the cylindrical portion.
- 46. The apparatus of claim 45 further characterized in that the main wire has a distal end portion of a maximum diameter substantially smaller than that of the main wire cylindrical portion and includes a distal terminal end, that the coils distal end portions have distal terminal ends, and that there is provided a guide wire bead joined to the coil and main wire distal terminal ends, that the main wire has an axially intermediate tapered portion that has a major base end joined to the main wire cylindrical portion and a minor base end axially between the major base and the bead whereby there is provided a structural free, annular clearance space surrounding the main wire that extends axially from axially adjacent to the major base to the guide wire bead.
- 47. The apparatus of claim 44 further characterized in that the main wire has a cylindrical and a distal end portion and an axially intermediate tapered portion that has a major base end integrally joined to the main wire cylindrical end portion and a minor base that is joined to the main wire distal end portion, the main wire distal end portion in transverse cross section being of a substantially smaller area than the corresponding area of the cylindrical end portion and being radially spaced from each of the coils, that the proximal end portion of at least one of the coils is joined to the main wire part by first means for joining the coils proximal end portions to the tapered portion and second means axially spaced from the first means for joining the first coil distal portion and the radially adjacent part of the outer coil to the main wire adjacent to its distal end portion.
- 48. The apparatus of claim 47 further characterized in that there is provided a third coil, the third coil having a proximal end joined by the second means to the main wire and a distal end substantially axially more remote from the second means than to the first means and that a distal guide wire tip is joined to the third coil distal end, the third coil being of substantially the same outer diameter as the outer coil.
- 49. The apparatus of claim 48 further characterized in that the third coil is integrally joined to the outer coil, that each of the first and outer coils is multifilar, that the main wire has a second cylindrical portion that is of a smaller diameter than the first cylindrical portion, the main wire distal end portion being integrally joined to the first tapered portion by the second cylindrical portion and a second tapered portion between the second cylindrical portion and the main wire distal end portion, and that the distal tip is joined to the main wire distal end portion, and that the second means is joined to at least one of the second tapered portion and the main wire distal end portion.
- 50. The apparatus of claim 44 further characterized in that the main wire has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion and that the proximal end portion of at least one coil is joined to the main wire part by a guide wire proximal tip that is joined to each of the coils and the main wire proximal end portion.
- 51. The apparatus of claim 50 further characterized in that the main wire is located within the coils and that a guide wire distal tip is joined to the distal end portions of the coils.
- 52. The apparatus of claim 50 further characterized in that the main wire includes a tapered base having a major base integrally joined to the main wire proximal portion and a minor base integrally joined to the main wire distal portion, the main wire distal portion in transverse cross section being of a substantially smaller area than that of the main wire proximal end portion.
- 53. The apparatus of claim 50 further characterized in that there is provided a safety wire located within the coils and having a proximal end joined to the proximal tip and a distal end joined to the distal tip, and that the main wire distal portion has a terminal end adjacent to the distal tip.
- 54. A catheter comprising an axially elongated multifilar metal inner coil having convolutions in abutting relationship, a distal end portion, a proximal end portion and an inner peripheral wall portion, an axially elongated multifilar outer metal coil having convolutions in abutting relationship, a distal end portion, a proximal end portion and an outer peripheral wall portion, the outer coil throughout at least substantially its entire axial length in its relaxed condition being of a smaller inner diameter than the outer diameter of the inner coil in its relaxed condition and being in coaxial abutting relationship to the inner coil, first means for joining the proximal end portions of the coils to one another, second means for joining the distal end portions of the coils to one another in fixed relationship, and third means for forming a generally tubular resilient portion joined to at least one of the inner and outer coil peripheral wall portions to extend radially outwardly and radially inwardly relative to the respective one of the peripheral wall portions to which it is joined, said third means extending at least nearly the axial length of the coils, including axially more remote from the proximal end portions of the coils than the distal end portions of the coils, and having a distal outlet opening, the coils being helically wound in opposite directions.
- 55. The apparatus of claim 54 further characterized in that the third means is made of a plastic material and that there is provided a catheter luer fitting joined to the proximal end portions of the coils in fixed relationshp therto, and that each coil in a linear relaxed condition has its adjacent helices in abutting relationship throughout its axial length.
- 56. A guide wire for being extended into a vascular vessel comprising a distal tip, an axially elongated main wire having a distal end portion and an axially elongated cylindrical portion that is of a substantially greater axial length than the wire distal end portion, and axially elongated spring coil means having an inner peripheral wall, the coil means having a distal and a proximal end portion, including axially adjacent helices in abutting relationship for transmitting torque from the cylinder portion to the distal tip, each of the coil means and main wire distal end portions having distal terminal parts joined to the distal tip, the coil means including a coil portion in press fitting relationship throughout at least a major part of the axial length of the cylindrical portion for retaining the coil means proximal portion in a fixed axial relationship to the cylindrical portion and provide a substantially 1 to 1 transfer of torque from the cylindrical portion to the coil proximal end portion regardless of the direction of rotation of the cylindrical portion.
- 57. The guide wire of claim 56 further characterized in that the main wire includes a tapered portion having a major base joined to the cylindrical portion and a minor base axially between the major base and the guide wire tip, the main wire distal end portion being of a maximum transverse dimension that is substantially less than the diameter of the cylindrical portion.
- 58. The guide wire of claim 57 further characterized in that the coil means includes a first coil having the above mentioned coil portion and a second coil that is in interference fitting relationship to the first coil along the axial length of the first coil and has the coil means distal part, the first coil being radially between the second coil and the main wire, and that each coil is of one of a generally rectangular wire and a round wire with at most only one of the first and second coils being of rectangular wire.
- 59. The guide wire of claim 57 further characterized in that the coil means is radially spaced from the main wire to provide an annular structural free space extending axially from the distal tip to axially closely adjacent to the juncture of the tapered portion to the cylindrical portion.
- 60. The guide wire of claim 59 further characterized in that a proximal tip is joined to the cylindrical portion axially opposite the tapered portion and is of a maximum transverse diameter substantially the same as the maximum transverse diameter of the distal tip and the outer diameter of the coil portion.
- 61. The guide wire of claim 59 further characterized in that a proximal tip is joined to the cylindrical portion axially opposite the tapered portion and that the coil means includes a first coil having the coil portion and a second coil of an outer diameter substantially the same as the maximum transverse dimension of the distal tip, is in interference fitting relationship with the first coil and extends axially the length of the first coil and from the distal tip to the proximal tip, the first coil being radially between the main wire and the second coil.
- 62. The guide wire of claim 59 further characterized in that the main wire has a proximal cylindrical portion, a second tapered portion having a major base joined to the proximal cylindrical portion and a minor base joined to the first cylindrical portion, the coil means having an outer diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the proximal cylindrical portion, the coil means including a coil having the coils means distal terminal part.
- 63. The guide wire of claim 59 further characterized in that the main wire has a proximal cylindrical portion, a second tapered portion having a major base joined to the proximal cylindrical portion and a minor base joined to the first cylindrical portion, and that the coil means includes a first coil having the coil portion and a second coil in interference fitting relationshp to the first coil and of an outer diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the proximal cylinder portion.
- 64. For manipulating a movable guide wire that has an axially elongated coil with a proximal end portion and a distal end portion that has a distal terminal end and resiliently assumes an arcuately curved condition in a relaxed condition and is straightenable to extend generally linearly, a guide wire bead joined to the distal terminal end, and an axially elongated main wire that includes proximal and distal ends and is extendable within the coil to an extended position to straighten the coil distal end while the wire proximal end extends axially more remote from the bead than the coil proximal end and a retracted position that the coil distal portion assumes its arcuately curved condition, a handle assembly comprising a proximal main body portion having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion and a first bore extending axially therethrough, a distal main body portion mounted by the proximal end portion for axial movement relative thereto and having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion extending axially more remote from the proximal main body distal end portion than the distal main body proximal end portion and a second bore extending axially therethrough and being coaxially aligned with the first bore, proximal control means mounted on the proximal main body proximal end portion for cooperating therewith to clampingly retain the handle section in axially fixed relationship relative to the proximal main body, distal control means mounted on the distal main body distal end portion for cooperating therewith to retain the proximal ends of the coil in a fixed axial relationship relative to the distal main body portion and stop means mounted by one of the main body portions to limit its movement relative to the other to an amount that the main wire moves between its positions.
- 65. The apparatus of claim 64 further characterized in that when the main wire is in its retracted position, the distal portion of the coil assumes a generally J-shaped condition, that the proximal main body proximal end portion and the distal main body end portion are each generally frustoconical and axially slit to provide at least one clamp segment movable between a clamping and a non-clamping position and that each of the control means is threadedly mounted by the respective main body end portion and has means for engaging the respective frustoconical portion to force its segment to its clamping position.
- 66. A guide wire for being extended into a vascular vessel, comprising a hollow lumen cable having an axially elongated first helically wound coil that has distal and proximal end portions, an outer peripheral diameter, a center axis and a plurality of helices that throughout the axial length of the first coil are substantially of the same radial spacing from the first coil central axis when the first coil throughout its length extends linearly, and an axially elongated second helically wound coil that has distal and proximal end portions, an inner peripheral diameter, a central axis and a plurality of helices that throughout the axial length of the second coil are of substantially the same radial spacing from the second coil central axis when the second coil extends linearly throughout its length, the first coil being within the second coil in interference fitting relationship with the second coil throughout substantially its entire axial length, having its end portions radially adjacent to the corresponding end portions of the first coil and being oppositely wound from the winding of the second coil, the second coil outer diameter being that of a coiled vascular guide wire, a cable distal tip joined to the distal end portions of the coils, the coils having distal parts joined to the cable distal tip that in a relaxed condition resiliently assume an arcuately curved datum position that extends at a first given arcuate angle relative to the remainder of the coils and being movable to extend through a second arcuate angle that is substantially smaller than the first arcuate angle, and an axially elongated core wire that is extendable within the first coil and of a length that when extending closely adjacent to the cable distal tip, extends axially outwardly of the proximal end portions of the coils, for forcing the distal parts of the coils from extending through the first arcuate angle toward extending toward the second arcuate angle when axially moved into the distal parts of the coils toward the cable distal tip, the core wire having a distal tip, a distal first part joined to the wire distal tip and a second part of a substantially greater axial length than the axial length of the wire distal tip and wire first part, the core wire second part being joined to the wire first part to extend proximally thereof, the core wire distal part and distal tip being located within the first coil and axially proximally outwardly of the coils distal parts when the coil parts extend arcuately to the first arcuate angle and extendable within the distal parts of the coils for forcing the distal parts of the coils toward their second arcuate angle.
- 67. The guide wire of claim 66 further characterized in that the core wire second part is substantially cylindrical through its axial length, and that the core wire distal part comprises an axially elongated frustoconical part having a major base joined to the cylindrical part.
- 68. The guide wire of claim 66 further characterized in that the core wire distal part and second part are cylindrical and of substantially the same diameters throughout their axial lengths, that distal parts of the coils are movable to extend linearly with reference to the remainder part of the coils, and that when the core wire is move in the first coil closely adjacent to the cable distal tip, the distal parts are forced to extend generally linearly.
- 69. The guide wire of claim 68 further characterized in that the distal parts of the coils when extending through the first arcuate angle are generally J-shaped.
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 120,878, filed Sep. 30, 1987.
Divisions (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08953059 |
Oct 1997 |
US |
Child |
09780658 |
Feb 2001 |
US |
Parent |
07959551 |
Oct 1992 |
US |
Child |
08953059 |
Oct 1997 |
US |
Parent |
07384398 |
Jul 1989 |
US |
Child |
07959551 |
Oct 1992 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
07102878 |
Sep 1987 |
US |
Child |
07384398 |
Jul 1989 |
US |