A Medical Guidewire That Bends to Protect Tissue

This patent describes a medical guidewire assembly designed to safely puncture a body wall, featuring a flexible tip that automatically forms a protective shape once it exits a guiding tube, preventing the sharp piercing tool from accidentally harming nearby healthy tissue.

What it covers

This medical guidewire assembly helps doctors safely puncture a biological wall inside a patient's body. It uses a 'guidewire introducer,' which is like a guiding tube, placed near the wall. The assembly has a 'flexible distal shaft section' (the tip) that extends through this tube. Once this flexible tip leaves the introducer, it automatically takes on a 'predetermined spatial geometry' (a specific, pre-set shape). This shape is designed to keep the 'piercing stylet device' (a sharp tool within the guidewire) from touching any healthy tissue nearby after it punctures the wall. For example, if a doctor needs to puncture a blood vessel wall, this guidewire would ensure the sharp tip is immediately shielded by the guidewire's bent shape once it's through, protecting surrounding organs.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover guidewires that do not form a specific, predetermined shape after exiting the introducer.
• —Does not cover guidewires where the formed shape fails to prevent contact between the piercing stylet and adjacent tissue.
• —Does not cover guidewire assemblies that do not include a separate piercing stylet device for puncturing.
• —Does not cover guidewires where the flexible distal shaft section does not move through a guidewire introducer.
• —Does not cover guidewires used for purposes other than puncturing a biological wall within a patient's body.

The clever bit

The clever part is the guidewire's ability to automatically change shape into a protective barrier as soon as its flexible tip exits the guiding tube. This 'predetermined spatial geometry' instantly shields the sharp piercing tool, preventing it from accidentally damaging adjacent tissues after the initial puncture.

Why it matters

Medical procedures often require puncturing internal body structures, such as blood vessel walls or organ linings. Accidental damage to surrounding healthy tissue during these punctures can lead to serious complications for patients. This guidewire design aims to significantly reduce such risks by providing an immediate, built-in safety mechanism, making interventional procedures safer and more precise.

Real-world examples

• 1.Catheter insertion for angioplasty
• 2.Biopsy procedures requiring tissue sampling
• 3.Placement of drainage tubes
• 4.Stent delivery in vascular interventions
• 5.Accessing specific body cavities for diagnostic imaging