Patent ID: 6776765
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A steerable stylet for use within a lumen of an intravascular device comprising:a stylet assembly having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, said stylet assembly including: a stylet wire having a lumen defined therein, said stylet wire having an outer diameter of less than 0.016 inches and a beam strength of at least 0.005 lbf as measured by the ASTM E855-90 3-point bend test; and a core wire positioned within said lumen of said stylet wire and having a distal end portion of said core wire operably secured to said stylet wire proximate a distal end portion of said stylet wire; and a handle proximate said proximal end portion of said stylet assembly, said handle including: a hand-held housing structure operably connected to one of a proximal end portion of said stylet wire and a proximal end portion of said core wire; an adjustable tensioner mechanism operably connected to the other of said proximal end portion of said stylet wire and said proximal end portion of said core wire to adjust a relative tension force applied between said stylet wire and said core wire; and a tension limiter operably arranged to limit said tension force applied between said core wire and said stylet wire to a limit force that is less than a breaking stress force of said stylet wire when said stylet assembly is positioned within said lumen of said intravascular device.