Patent ID: 7972282
Filing Date: 2011-07-05
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A torque device configured to accommodate a guidewire that is to be inserted into the vasculature or other physiological location of a patient, the torque device configured to engage a guidewire when the guidewire is positioned within the vasculature of the patient in a manner that a practitioner can manipulate the guidewire with a single hand by grasping and manipulating the torque device, the torque device comprising: a housing having an outer periphery and including a lumen which is configured to allow passage of guidewires of varying diameters, an actuator operably connected to the housing, the actuator having a lumen configured to allow for selective engagement of the guidewire, such that when the actuator is in a first position, the guidewire is secured relative to the torque device and when the actuator is in a second position the guidewire can be moved relative to the torque device, wherein the lumen of the housing and the lumen of the actuator are non-circular with a transverse cross-section having a large area that tapers to a narrow area, such that the non-circular lumen of the actuator engages the guidewire at two or more elongate areas extending along a length of the surface of the guidewire and the non-circular lumen of the housing engages the guidewire at two or more elongate areas extending along a length of the surface of the guidewire when the actuator is in the first position, wherein the transverse cross-section of the lumen of the actuator has an inverted orientation relative to the transverse cross-section of the lumen of the housing.