Robert Burgermeister;Kirk L. Johnson;Mark N. Inderbitzen
发明人:
Mark N. Inderbitzen,Robert Burgermeister,Kirk L. Johnson
申请号:
US11316446
公开号:
US08142468B2
申请日:
2005.12.22
申请国别(地区):
US
年份:
2012
代理人:
摘要:
A guidewire navigable through body vessels of a human subject for delivery of a catheter or the like is provided. The guidewire includes an expandable segment movable between a collapsed state and an expanded state. If the catheter encounters resistance in a vessel and cannot be advanced further, the medical professional can move the expandable segment to the expanded state in which the expandable segment engages an inner surface of the catheter. The expandable segment locks onto the catheter, which allows the guidewire and catheter to be advanced through the vessel together as a single unit. An inflatable balloon catheter movable along the guidewire requires only a single tube and is sealed by the expandable segment of the guidewire for subsequent inflation.