# 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. - **Patent:** US 12734341 - **Original title:** Medical guidewire assembly having predetermined spatial geometry - **Granted:** 2026 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** medical_devices, biotech, mechanical, surgical_tools ## What it does 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 does NOT 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. ## 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 ## 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. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does A Medical Guidewire That Bends to Protect Tissue cover? 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. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What problem does this patent solve? 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. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover guidewires that do not form a specific, predetermined shape after exiting the introducer. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734341/medical-guidewire-assembly-having-predetermined-spatial-geometry **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12734341 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How a Catheter Blood Pump Extends Its Tip for Guidance](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734351/catheter-blood-pump-delivery-guiding-systems-and-methods-of-use) — This patent describes a tiny blood pump on a catheter that can extend a part of its tip forward, guided by a separate internal wire, to help it move safely and precisely inside blood vessels. - [Catheter System for Opening and Closing Body Passages](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4195637/balloon-angioplasty-catheter-gruentzig) — This 1980 patent describes a medical catheter system with a guide catheter and a special dilatation catheter that can expand to open or close body passages, like blood vessels. - [A Biopsy Cap with Helical Brushes for Endoscopes](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733796/biopsy-cap-for-use-with-endoscope) — This patent describes a specialized cap for endoscopes that uses brushes arranged in a spiral pattern to collect tissue samples during medical procedures. - [Surgical Tool with Flexible, Articulating, and Rotating End Effectors](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10736702/activating-and-rotating-surgical-end-effectors) — This patent describes a surgical tool with a flexible tip that can bend in multiple directions and also twist, allowing surgeons to precisely control instruments like graspers and cutters inside the body. - [A Heart Plaque Removal Tool That Cuts Both Ways](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733952/atherectomy-system-adapted-to-enable-retrograde-ablation) — This patent describes a medical device for clearing blocked arteries that can cut away plaque both forwards and backwards using a single tool, while giving the doctor consistent feedback.