A steerable guidewire. The steerable guidewire is fabricated includes an outer tube, an inner tube, a hub, and a distal articulating region. The steerable guidewire hub can be removed to permit advancement of catheters over its proximal end followed by re-attachment of the hub to permit deflection of the distal end of the steerable guidewire.

Intraluminal and endovascular devices and methods of manufacturing intraluminal and endovascular devices may be provided. In one implementation, an intraluminal device may include a sheath having a flexible distal bending segment and a core wire arranged within the sheath. The core wire may include a distal end portion doubled back in a loop within the sheath such that the distal tip of the core wire is situated proximally from the loop. The intraluminal device may also include a movement restrictor within the sheath that is configured to limit axial movement of the distal tip of the core wire. Limiting the axial movement of the core wire distal tip may cause the loop of the core wire to buckle, resulting in a bend in the distal bending segment of the sheath, when a force is exerted on the core wire.

In one exemplary embodiment, an endovascular device may include a hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and sized for insertion into a blood vessel. The endovascular device may also include a control line having a proximal end and a distal end, and extending through the hollow shaft. The endovascular device may also include an actuatable working element located proximate the distal end of the hollow shaft, and configured to receive an actuation force transmitted via the distal end of the control line. The endovascular device may further include an actuator configured to exert the actuation force on the proximal end of the control line, to thereby cause relative movement between the control line and the hollow shaft and to actuate the working element. The hollow shaft may also include a cable formed of a plurality of wound wires and including a proximal segment, at least one transition segment, and a distal segment. The proximal segment, at least one transition segment, and distal segment may include different numbers of wires.

A device (10) which serves as a stiff guide wire for surgical procedures includes a tube (12) having an internal channel, and a central rod (14) in close-fitting sliding engagement within the tube. The tips of the tube and the central rod are in rigid mechanical engagement or interconnection. A region of the tube (112) is longitudinally slotted to form deflectable strips (18) so that advancing of the tube (12) relative to central the rod (14) causes outward deflection of the strips (18) to form an anchoring configuration. The central rod (14) and the tube (12) together define a stiff guide wire preferably having a length-to-width ratio in excess of 100:1.

This invention is a transvascularly placed steerable guidewire, further including internal steerability and the ability to articulate in a direction at right angles to its longitudinal axis at or near its distal end. The steerable guidewire is generally fabricated from stainless steel and includes an outer tube, an inner tube, hub structures, and a distal articulating region. The steerable guidewire can be advanced through a body lumen in its straight configuration and then be selectively articulated or curved to permit negotiation of tortuous curvature. The steerable guidewire hub can be removed to permit advancement of catheters over its proximal end followed by re-attachment of the hub to permit deflection of the distal end of the steerable guidewire. Removal of the hub can result in a limp guidewire or maintenance of a forced curvature of the distal end of the guidewire.

Endovascular and intravascular devices and methods of manufacturing endovascular and intravascular devices may be provided. In one implementation, an intravascular device including an elongated sheath and an elongated coil distal to the sheath may be provided. The coil may include a first coil segment formed from a plurality of wires helically-wound at a first coil angle; a second coil segment formed from a first subset of the plurality of wires that is helically-wound at a second coil angle that is different from the first coil angle; and a third coil segment formed from a second subset of the plurality of wires that is helically-wound at a third coil angle that is different from the first and second coil angles. The coil segments may be configured such that flexibility of the coil increases in a longitudinal direction toward the distal end of the coil.

Endovascular and intravascular devices and methods of manufacturing endovascular and intravascular devices may be provided. In one implementation, an intravascular device including an elongated sheath and an elongated coil distal to the sheath may be provided. The coil may include a first coil segment formed from a plurality of wires helically-wound at a first coil angle; a second coil segment formed from a first subset of the plurality of wires that is helically-wound at a second coil angle that is different from the first coil angle; and a third coil segment formed from a second subset of the plurality of wires that is helically-wound at a third coil angle that is different from the first and second coil angles. The coil segments may be configured such that flexibility of the coil increases in a longitudinal direction toward the distal end of the coil.

A method of manufacturing an elongate shaft for delivery of a medical device may include disposing a polymeric sheath having a lumen extending therethrough over a mandrel; sliding a proximal portion of the polymeric sheath into a lumen of a metallic tubular member; placing a polymeric tubular member over the distal portion of the polymeric sheath and a distal portion of the metallic tubular member; fixedly attaching a proximal coupler to a distal end of a longitudinal support filament; inserting a proximal end of the longitudinal support filament between the polymeric sheath and the polymeric tubular member to position the longitudinal support filament alongside the distal portion of the metallic tubular member and a distal portion of the polymeric sheath; and reflowing the polymeric tubular member to secure the longitudinal support filament relative to the polymeric sheath and the metallic tubular member.

Medical devices and systems for treating a stricture, for example along the biliary and/or pancreatic tract, are disclosed. An example system may include a guidewire having a distal end and defining a lumen. A stiffening rod may be slidably disposed within the lumen. The stiffening rod may have a distal end and a distal end region disposed adjacent to the distal end. The stiffening rod may be configured to shift between a first position where the distal end of the stiffening rod is disposed proximally of the distal end of the guidewire and a second position where the distal end of the stiffening rod is disposed distally of the distal end of the guidewire.

Intraluminal and endovascular devices and methods of manufacturing intraluminal and endovascular devices may be provided. In one implementation, an intraluminal device may include a sheath having a flexible distal bending segment and a core wire arranged within the sheath. The core wire may include a distal end portion doubled back in a loop within the sheath such that the distal tip of the core wire is situated proximally from the loop. The intraluminal device may also include a movement restrictor within the sheath that is configured to limit axial movement of the distal tip of the core wire. Limiting the axial movement of the core wire distal tip may cause the loop of the core wire to buckle, resulting in a bend in the distal bending segment of the sheath, when a force is exerted on the core wire.