Patent ID: 6183432
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
A guidewire for crossing vascular occlusions comprising:a guidewire shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being perpendicular to an outer surface of the guidewire shaft such that the outer surface of the guidewire shaft and the distal end define a right cylinder;a drive member having a proximal and a distal end, the drive member being rotatably disposed within and along a longitudinal axis of the guidewire shaft;an actuator connected to the proximal end of the drive member, the actuator capable of imparting rotational movement to the drive member, andan asymmetrical and atraumatic rotating tip attached to the distal end of the drive member, the asymmetrical and atraumatic rotating tip comprising,a planar proximal end and a rounded distal end, wherein the planar proximal end is substantially parallel to and in very close proximity to the distal end of the guidewire shaft;a smooth, rounded outer surface comprising,a portion that substantially conforms to the right cylinder defined by the guidewire shaft; anda protruding portion that locally projects radially from the longitudinal axis of the guidewire shaft beyond the right cylinder; andat least one image transducer mounted in the asymmetrical and atraumatic tip for obtaining guidance information as the guidewire advances through a patient's vasculature, wherein the at least one image transducer is mounted in a recess in the portion of the atraumatic rotating tip that substantially conforms to the right cylinder defined by the guidewire shaft.