Patent ID: 8075497
Filing Date: 2011-12-13
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A coupling wire guide for coupling to a previously introduced wire guide in intracorporeal procedures, the coupling wire guide comprising: a main body having a distal end; a tip portion securely connected to the distal end of the main body, the tip portion including first, second and third sections oriented along a longitudinal axis, the first section connected to the main body, the second section interconnecting the first and third sections, the third section defining an axial passageway having a distal opening and a proximal opening, the axial passageway sized to receive the previously introduced wire guide therein; and the second section including a strip extending axially and circumferentially that defines a complementary axially and circumferentially extending opening in communication with the proximal opening, the strip following a curved path between the first and third sections, the strip extending circumferentially around the longitudinal axis less than 360 degrees and having a circumferential width less than 180 degrees, the natural unbiased configuration of the tip portion defining the axially and circumferentially extending opening.