Patent ID: 6579302
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A guidewire for crossing an occluded vessel lumen, said guidewire comprising:a flexible wire having an outer diameter, an inner diameter, a proximal end and a distal end; a generally solid core wire having an outer diameter, a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end of said core wire slidably insertable into said proximal end of said flexible wire; and a spreader attached to said distal end of said flexible wire, said spreader comprising means for incrementally opening the occluded vessel lumen, said spreader having a proximal end and a distal end, a smaller first diameter for insertion into said lumen, and a second larger diameter for expanding said lumen, and a second maintaining said smaller first diameter when said core wire is slidably inserted through said flexible wire and said spreader, until said distal end of said core wire is substantially in contact with said distal end of said spreader, and said spreader having said larger second diameter when said spreader and said flexible wire are slidably advanced over said core wire until said distal end of said core wire is substantially in contact with said proximal end of said spreader.