Patent Abstract:
A device for releasably attaching to an elongated element is disclosed. Examples of the elongated element include a shaft, such as a guidewire. The device can improve the ergonomics of manipulating the elongated element. The device can also be easily put onto and removed from the guidewire. The invention also relates to a method of using the device.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a device for releasably attaching to an elongated element, for example a shaft such as a guidewire. The invention also relates to a method of using the device.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     During minimally invasive vascular surgery, a long guidewire is often inserted into the vessel. The surgeon controls movement of the portion of the guidewire inside the vessel by physically manipulating the portion of the guidewire that is outside of the patient&#39;s body. The guidewire is also often withdrawn and redeployed entirely from the body.  
         [0005]     The guidewires are difficult to precisely manipulate without a handle, but the handle must be able to controllably slide along the length of the guidewire as the guidewire is being insert and removed from the body. The handle must also be able to be removed from and reattached to the guidewire entirely when the guidewire is removed from the body.  
         [0006]     However, the time spent manipulating the handle in the operating room should be minimized. The less steps needed to move the handle relative to the guidewire, the better. Guidewire handles are often therefore configured as pin vises. Pin vises can grab and release the guidewire with a minimal number of steps.  
         [0007]     Many pin vises slide over the end of guidewire. U.S. Pat. No. 4,858, 810 by Intelkofer et al. and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,159,861 and 5,325,746 by Anderson teach examples of such a pin vise. These pin vises often provide an ergonomic handle with which the surgeon can hold the guidewire. These pin vises also often enable the surgeon to grasp and release the guidewire from the pin vise using only one hand.  
         [0008]     To remove theses pin vises from the guidewire, however, the pin vises must be slid down the entire length of the guidewire until the pin vise comes off the open end of the guidewire. These pin vises can be very time consuming and unergonomic to put on and/or remove from the guidewire. These pin vises also often take two hands to put on and/or remove from the guidewire, as one hand steadies the guidewire as the other hand moves the pin vise.  
         [0009]     VascuMetrix, LLC (Mesa, Ariz.) manufactures a pin vise that is made from a threaded collet rotatably mounted on a threaded three-jaw chuck. The collet and the chuck have side ports that access an inner channel. During use, the guidewire is fed through the ports and into the inner channel. The collet is then be screwed down onto the chuck and the jaws of the chuck are deformably closed onto the guidewire, thereby grasping the guidewire with the pin vise.  
         [0010]     The VascuMetrix pin vise can be operated with a single hand. The pin vise can also be put on and/or removed from the guidewire, via the side port, without sliding the pin vise to the open end of the guidewire. However, when the VascuMetrix pin vise is grasping the guidewire, the grasping force is applied over a small area where the jaws of the tips of the chuck are deformed inward. The pressure applied on the guidewire is therefore very large and can easily damage the delicate guidewire. Furthermore, there is no safety mechanism on the VascuMetrix pin vise to prevent over-tightening the pin vise onto, and thereby damaging, the guidewire. The collet also must be rotated numerous times to sufficiently grasp and release the guidewire.  
         [0011]     Therefore there exists a need for a pin vise and method of use that reduces pressure applied to a guidewire when held. There also exists a need for a pin vise that can engage the guidewire wire from side, or otherwise provide a quick release from, and attachment to, the guidewire. Furthermore, a need exists to have a pin vise that also has improved ergonomics, such as being usable by single hand. Also, a need exists for a pin vise with a reduced amount of time needed to grasp and release the guidewire. There is also a need to have a pin vise that fulfills the above needs and also prevents overcrimping the guidewire.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     A vise for manipulating an intravascular leader is disclosed. The vise has a body. The body has a channel, a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end, and an external port. The external port provides access to the channel. The external port extends from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end when the vise is in a first configuration. The channel has a first minimum channel diameter when the vise is in a first configuration. The channel can grasp the intravascular leader when the vise is in a second configuration.  
         [0013]     The body can have a handle and a cam. The handle can be rotatably attached to the cam. The handle can be eccentrically rotatably attached to the cam. The handle can have a first portion of the channel. The cam can have a second portion of the channel.  
         [0014]     When the vise is in the second configuration, the handle can be eccentrically rotated with respect to the cam such that the channel has a second minimum channel diameter. The second minimum channel diameter can be less than the first minimum channel diameter.  
         [0015]     The cam can have a first cam part and a second cam part. The first cam part can be configured to move toward the second cam part when the vise is moved from the first configuration to the second configuration.  
         [0016]     Another vise is disclosed for manipulating an intravascular leader. The vise has a body that has a first body section rotatably attached to a second body section. The body also has a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end, and an external port. The first body section has a first channel. The second body section has a second channel. The first channel is eccentrically aligned with the second channel. The external port provides access to the first and second channels. The external port extends from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end when the vise is in a first configuration.  
         [0017]     A method of applying a force to an intravascular leader with a vise is also disclosed. The vise has a channel, a first vise end, a second vise end, and a side access port. The method includes inserting the intravascular leader into the side port of the vise. The method also includes rotating the first vise end with respect to the second vise end. Rotating causes the channel to grasp the intravascular leader. The method further includes applying a force to the vise.  
         [0018]     The channel can have a first channel and a second channel. Rotating the first vise end with respect to the second vise end can also include misaligning the first channel with respect to the second channel. Misaligning the first channel with respect to the second channel can include offsetting the first channel with respect to the second channel. Misaligning can include moving the first channel to not be parallel with respect to the second channel. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the vise.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the first section of the vise of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the first section of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the second section of the vise of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is an end view of the second section of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of the vise.  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  illustrates section A-A of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment of the vise.  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment of section B-B of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  is a front end view of an embodiment of the first section of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the first section of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the second section of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 13  is a front end view of an embodiment of the cam of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 14  is a side perspective exploded view of the cam of  FIG. 13 .  
         [0033]      FIGS. 15, 17  and  19  illustrate an embodiment of a method of using the vise of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0034]      FIGS. 16, 18 ,  20  and  21  illustrate embodiments of sections C-C, D-D, E-E and F-F respectively.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 22 and 23  illustrate section A-A of an embodiment of a method of using the vise of  FIG. 6   
         [0036]      FIGS. 24 and 26  illustrate an embodiment of a method of using the vise of  FIG. 8 .  
         [0037]      FIGS. 25 and 27  illustrate embodiments of sections G-G and H-H, respectively. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0038]      FIG. 1  illustrates a releasable attachment device, for example a vise body  2 . The vise body  2  can have a first section  4  and a second section  6 . The sections  4  and  6  can have an exterior that can be shaped ergonomically suitable to be handles. The first section  4  can be rotatably attached to the second section  6 , for example, at a joint  8 . The first section  4  can have a first end  10  away from the joint  8 . The second section  6  can have a second end  12  away from the joint  8 .  
         [0039]     The vise body  2  can have a port  14 . The port  14  can be parallel to a longitudinal axis  16  of the vise body  2 . The port  14  can access a channel  18 . The channel  18  can be parallel to the longitudinal axis  16 . The channel  18  can extend from the first end  10  to the second end  12 . The port  14  can extend radially from the channel  18  to the exterior of the vise body  2 .  
         [0040]     The vise body  2  can have a vise length  20  substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  16 . The vise length  20  can be from about 3.8 cm (1.5 in.) to about 15 cm (6.0 in.), for example about 6.1 cm (2.4 in.), also for example about 6.4 cm (2.5 in.). The port  14  can extend longitudinally along substantially all or most of the vise length  20 .  
         [0041]     Any or all elements of the vise body  2  can be made from, for example, a single or multiple stainless steel alloys, nickel titanium alloys (e.g., Nitinol), cobalt-chrome alloys (e.g., ELGILOY® from Elgin Specialty Metals, Elgin, Ill.; CONICHROME® from Carpenter Metals Corp., Wyomissing, Pa.), molybdenum alloys (e.g., molybdenum TZM alloy, for example as disclosed in International Pub. No. WO 03/082363 A2, published Oct. 9, 2003, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety), tungsten-rhenium alloys, for example, as disclosed in International Pub. No. WO 03/082363, polymers such as polyester (e.g., DACRON® from E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del.), polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), expanded PTFE (ePTFE), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), nylon, polyether-block co-polyamide polymers (e.g., PEBAX® from ATOFINA, Paris, France), aliphatic polyether polyurethanes (e.g., TECOFLEX® from Thermedics Polymer Products, Wilmington, Mass.), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane, thermoplastic, fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), extruded collagen, silicone, or combinations thereof.  
         [0042]      FIGS. 2 and 3  illustrate that the first section  4  of the vise body  2  can have a cam  22 . The cam  22  can extend from a face  24  on the first section  4  that can form part of the joint  8  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The cam  22  can extend to a cam end  26 . The cam  22  can be substantially cylindrically shaped. The cam  22  can be a separate element fixedly attached to the first section  4 .  
         [0043]     The cam  22  can be an integral with the first section  4 . The cam  22  can have a first joint engager  28 , for example a lip, tab, peg, pin, groove, rail, track, magnet or combination thereof. The first joint engager  28  can substantially circumscribe the cam  22 . The first joint engager  28  can partially circumscribe the cam  22 .  
         [0044]     The first section  4  can have a first section length  30  and a first section radius  32 . The first section length  30  can be from about 1.9 cm (0.75 in.) to about 7.6 cm (3.0 in.), for example 3.0 cm (1.2 in.), also for example about 3.3 cm (1.3 in.). The first section radius  32  can be from about 2.5 mm (0.10 in.) to about 4.45 mm (1.75 in.), for example about 3.97 mm (0.1563 in.), also for example about 5.1 mm (0.20 in.).  
         [0045]     The cam  22  can have a cam length  34  and a cam radius  36 . The cam length  34  can be from about 2.0 mm (0.080 in.) to about 51 mm (2.0 in.), for example about 5.1 mm (0.20 in.), also for example about 4.1 mm (0.16 in.). The cam radius  36  can be from about 1.1 mm (0.045 in.) to about 38 mm (1.5 in.), for example about 2.381 mm (0.09375 in.), also for example about 3.43 mm (0.135 in.).  
         [0046]     The port  14  can have a port height  38 . The port height  38  can be greater than or about equal to the diameter of a guidewire to be grasped by the vise body  2 . The port height  38  can be from about 0.36 mm (0.014 in.) to about 1.1 mm (0.045 in.), for example about 0.993 mm (0.0391 in.), also for example about 1.1 mm (0.045 in.).  
         [0047]     The channel can have a channel radius  40 . The channel radius  40  can be less than, greater than, or about equal to the port height  38 . The channel radius  40  can be about equal to the diameter of the guidewire to be grasped by the vise body  2 . The channel radius  40  can be from about 0.36 mm (0.014 in.) to about 1.1 mm (0.045 in.), for example about 0.993 mm (0.0391 in.), also for example about 1.1 mm (0.045 in.).  
         [0048]     The cam  22  can have a cam center  42 . The cam center  42  can be the center of rotation of the cam  22  during use. The channel  18  can have a channel center  42 . In the first section  4 , the channel center  42  can be a first offset  46  distance away from the cam center  42 . The first offset  46  can be from about 0.03 mm (0.001 in.) to about 1.3 mm (0.050 in.), for example about 0.13 mm (0.0050 in.).  
         [0049]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate that the second section  6  can have a cam receptacle  48 . The second section  6  can have a second section length  50  from about 1.9 cm (0.75 in.) to about 7.6 cm (3.0 in.), for example about 3.0 cm (1.2 in.), also for example about 3.3 cm (1.3 in.).  
         [0050]     The cam receptacle  48  can be configured to rotatably attach to the cam  22 . The cam receptacle  48  can recess from the face  24  on the second section  6 . The face  24  on the second section  6  can form part of the joint  8  (shown in  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0051]     The cam receptacle  48  can extend to a cam receptacle end  52 . The cam receptacle  48  can be substantially cylindrically shaped. The cam receptacle  48  can have a cam receptacle length  54 . The cam receptacle length  54  can be greater than or about to the cam length  34 . The cam receptacle length  54  can be from about 2.0 mm (0.080 in.) to about 51 mm (2.0 in.), for example about 5.1 mm (0.20 in.), also for example about 4.1 mm (0.16 in.).  
         [0052]     The cam receptacle  48  can have a second joint engager  56 . The second joint engager  56  can be configured to slidably engage the first joint engager  28 . The second joint engager  56  can substantially circumscribe the cam receptacle  48 . The second joint engager  56  can partially circumscribe the cam receptacle  48 .  
         [0053]     The cam receptacle  48  can have a cam receptacle radius  58 . The cam receptacle radius  58  can be greater than or about equal to the cam radius  36 . The cam receptacle radius  58  can be from about 1.1 mm (0.045 in.) to about 38 mm (1.5 in.), for example about 2.381 mm (0.09375 in.), also for example about 3.43 mm (0.135 in.).  
         [0054]     In the second section  6 , the channel center  42  can be a second offset  60  distance away from the cam center  42 . The second offset  60  can be about equal to the first offset  46 . The second offset  60  can be from about 0.03 mm (0.001 in.) to about 1.3 mm (0.050 in.), for example about 0.13 mm (0.0050 in.).  
         [0055]     The second section  6  can have a second section radius  62 . The second section radius  62  can be about equal to the first section radius  32 . The second section radius  62  can be from about 2.5 mm (0.10 in.) to about 4.45 mm (1.75 in.), for example about 3.97 mm (0.1563 in.), also for example about 5.1 mm (0.20 in.).  
         [0056]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate that the vise body  2  can have a distinct cam  22  that can be rotatably attached to the first section  4  and the second section  6 . The first section  4  can have a first cam receptacle  48   a . The second section  6  can have a second cam receptacle  48   b . The cam center  42  can have an offset  64  from the channel center  42 . The offset  64  can be from about 0.03 mm (0.001 in.) to about 1.3 mm (0.050 in.), for example about 0.13 mm (0.0050 in.).  
         [0057]     A first stop track  66  can be in the first cam receptacle  48   a  (as shown) or in the cam  22 . The first stop track  66  can partially circumscribe the first cam receptacle  48   a  or the cam  22 . A second stop track  68  can be in the second cam receptacle  48   b  (as shown) or in the cam  22 . The second stop track  68  can partially circumscribe the second cam receptacle  48   b  or the cam  22 . The first stop track  66  can be angularly offset from the second stop track  68  with respect to the longitudinal axis  16 .  
         [0058]     A first stop pin  70  can be fixedly attached or integral to the first cam receptacle  48   a  or the cam  22 , whichever does not have the first stop track  66 . The first stop pin  70  can be slidably attached to the first stop track  66 .  
         [0059]     A second stop pin  72  can be fixedly attached or integral to the second cam receptacle  48   b  or the cam  22 , whichever does not have the second stop track  68 . The second stop pin  72  can be slidably attached to the second stop track  68 .  
         [0060]     The first stop track  66  can have a first stop  74 . The second stop track  68  can have a second stop  76 . The first and/or second stops  74  and/or  76  can be configured to magnetically fix, snap or otherwise interference fit the first and/or second stop pins  74  and/or  76 , respectively.  
         [0061]      FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate that the vise body  2  can have the channel radius  40  and/or the channel center  42  that can be variably adjustable over the length of the cam  22 . The cam  22  can have a first part  78 . The cam  22  can have a second part  80 . The first part  78  can be slidably attached to the second part  80 . The first part  78  can be configured to move towards and away from the second part  80 .  
         [0062]     A first crimp track  82  can be in the first cam receptacle  48   a  (as shown) or in the cam  22 . The first crimp track  82  can partially circumscribe the first cam receptacle  48   a  or the cam  22 . A second crimp track  84  can be in the second cam receptacle  48   b  (as shown) or in the cam  22 . The second crimp track  84  can partially circumscribe the second cam receptacle  48   b  or the cam  22 . The first crimp track  82  can be angularly offset from the second crimp track  84  with respect to the longitudinal axis  16 .  
         [0063]     As shown in  FIGS. 9 through 12 , the first and second crimp tracks  82  and  84  can have crimp track radii  86 . The crimp track radii  86  can vary between minimum crimp track radii  88  and maximum crimp track radii  90  with respect to the angle of the crimp track  110  about the longitudinal axis  16 .  
         [0064]     A first crimp pin  92  can be fixedly attached or integral to the first cam receptacle  48   a  or the cam  22 , whichever does not have the first crimp track  82 . The first crimp pin  92  can be slidably and/or rotatably attached to the first crimp track  82 .  
         [0065]     A second crimp pin  94  can be fixedly attached or integral to the second cam receptacle  48   b  or the cam  22 , whichever does not have the second crimp track  84 . The second crimp pin  94  can be slidably and/or rotatably attached to the second crimp track  84 .  
         [0066]     A first hub engagement  96  can be in the first cam receptacle  48   a  or the cam  22  (as shown). A first hub  98  can be fixedly attached to or integral with the first cam receptacle  48   a  (as shown) or the cam  22 , whichever does not have the first hub engagement  96 . The first hub  98  can be configured to slidably and/or rotatably attach to the first hub engagement  96 .  
         [0067]     A second hub engagement  100  can be in the second cam receptacle  48   b  or the cam  22  (as shown). A second hub  102  can be fixedly attached to or integral with the second cam receptacle  48   b  (as shown) or the cam  22 , whichever does not have the second hub engagement  100 . The second hub  102  can be configured to slidably and/or rotatably attach to the second hub engagement  100 .  
         [0068]     The first and second hub engagements  96  and  100  can have first and second hub engagement heights  97  and  101 . The first hub engagement height  97  minus the second hub engagement height  101  can be greater than of about equal to the maximum crimp track radius  90  minus the minimum crimp track radius  88 . The first hub engagement height  97  can be from about 0.51 mm (0.020 in.) to about 38 mm (1.5 in.), for example about 1.5 mm (0.060 in.). The second hub engagement height  101  can be from about 0.25 mm (0.010 in.) to about 38 mm (1.5 in.), for example about 1.0 mm (0.040 in.).  
         [0069]     The vise body  2  can have a grip ridge  104  at and/or around the joint  8 . The grip ridge  104  can be configured to be ergonomically beneficial for gripping with a hand. The grip ridge  104  can have a grip ridge height  106 . The grip ridge height  106  can be from about 0 mm (0 in.) to about 4.3 cm (1.7 in.), for example about 1.4 mm (0.055 in.).  
         [0070]     The first section  4  can have a first joint engager  28 . The second section  6  can have a second joint engager  56 . The first joint engager  28  can be configured to rotatably and/or slidably attach to the second joint engager  56 . The first joint engager  28  can form a snap and/or interference fit with the second joint engager  56  in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis  16 .  
         [0071]     The vise body  2  can have the first and/or second stop tracks  66  and/or  68 , and first and/or second stop pins  70  and/or  72 , as described supra. A stop track angle  108  can be the angle about the longitudinal axis  16  from the first stop  74  to the second stop  76 . The stop track angle  108  can be from about 10° to about 355°, for example about 24°.  
         [0072]     A crimp track angle  110  can be the angle about the longitudinal axis  16  from a crimp track first end  107  to a crimp track second end  109 . The crimp track angle  110  can be from about 10° to about 505°, for example about 235°.  
         [0073]      FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate that the first part  78  can be configured to slidably attach to the second part  80 , for example parallel to a transverse axis  111 . The first and/or second parts  78  and/or  80  can have teeth  112 . The first and/or second parts  78  and/or  80  can have teeth receptacles  114 . The teeth  112  on one part  78  or  80  can be configured to slidably engage and attach to the teeth receptacles  114  on the opposing part  80  or  78 .  
         [0000]     Method of Manufacture  
         [0074]     Appropriate elements of the vise body  2  can be directly attached by, for example, melting, screwing, gluing, welding or use of an interference fit or pressure fit such as crimping, or combining methods thereof. Appropriate elements, for example the first section  4  and the second section  6 , can be snap fit. Appropriate elements can be integrated, for example, molding, die cutting, laser cutting, electrical discharge machining (EDM) or stamping from a single piece or material. Any other methods can be used as known to those having ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0000]     Method of Use  
         [0075]      FIGS. 15 through 23  illustrate various methods of using the vise body  2 .  FIGS. 15 and 16  illustrate a method of moving, as shown by arrows, an elongated leader, such as a guidewire  116 , into the vise body  2  when the vise body  2  is in an open configuration. The vise body  2  can be in an open configuration when the port  14  of the first section  4  is aligned with the port  14  of the second section  6 . The entire channel  18  can be easily accessed by the guidewire  116  when the vise body  2  is in an open configuration.  
         [0076]     The guidewire  116  can have a guidewire diameter  118 . The guidewire diameter  118  can be from about 0.36 mm (0.014 in.) to about 1.1 mm (0.045 in.), for example about 1.0 mm (0.040 in.).  
         [0077]      FIGS. 17 and 18  illustrate that once the guidewire  116  is placed in the channel  18 , the first section  4  can be rotated, as shown by arrow  120 , with respect to second section  6 . The second section  6  can be held fixed or rotated, as shown by arrow  122 , in the opposite direction of the rotation, as shown by arrow  120 , of the first section  4 .  
         [0078]      FIGS. 19 and 21  illustrate the vise body  2  and guidewire  116  that can be graspingly configured after being subjected to the rotation and possible counter-rotation shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 . The guidewire  116  can be grasped and fixedly attached to the vise body  2 .  
         [0079]     The port  14  of the first section  4  can be misaligned with the port  14  of the second section  6 . The extended axis of the channel center  42  of the first section  4  can be the offset  64  distance from the channel center  42  of the second section  6 , as shown in  FIG. 21 . The channel  18  can grasp the guidewire  116  by applying force to the guidewire  116  around the cam end  26  and the cam receptacle end  52 . The guidewire  116  can be released from the vise body  2  by rotating the first section  4  and possibly the second section  6  in the opposite directions from those shown in  FIG. 17 .  
         [0080]      FIG. 22  illustrates the guidewire  116  that can be loaded into the vise body  2  that can have the cam  22  that can be distinct from the first or second sections  4  or  6 .  FIG. 23  illustrates that the first section  4  can be rotated, as shown (out of plane) by arrow  120 . The second section  6  can be held fixed or rotated, as shown (out of plane) by arrow  122 , in the opposite direction of the rotation, as shown (out of plane) by arrow  120 , of the first section  4 . Rotation of the first section  4  and possibly the second section  6  can drive the cam  22  to rotate—or the cam  22  can remain stationary as the first section  4  and possibly the second section  6  rotate around the cam  22 .  
         [0081]     When the vise body  2  is in the grasping configuration as shown in  FIG. 23 , the extended axis of the channel center  42  in the cam  22  can be the offset  64  distance from the channel center  42  in the first and second sections  4  and  6 . The channel  18  can grasp the guidewire  116  by applying force to the guidewire  116  distributed around the area of the cam ends  26  and the cam receptacle ends  52 . The guidewire  116  can be released from the vise body  2  by rotating the first section  4  and possibly the second section  6  in the opposite directions from those directions shown in  FIG. 23 .  
         [0082]      FIGS. 24 and 25  illustrate the guidewire  116  that can be loaded into the vise body  2  that can have the cam  22  that can be configured to variably adjust the channel radius and/or the channel center  42  over the length of the cam  22 .  FIGS. 26 and 27  illustrate that the first section  4  can be rotated, as shown by arrow  120 . The second section  6  can be held fixed or rotated, as shown by arrow  122 , in the opposite direction of the rotation, as shown by arrow  120 , of the first section  4 .  
         [0083]     Rotation of the first section  4  and possibly the second section  6  can drive the  23  cam  22  to rotate—or the cam  22  can remain stationary as the first section  4  and possibly the second section  6  rotate around the cam  22 . As the cam  22  is rotated with respect to the first and/or second sections  4  and/or  6 , the crimp pins  92  and  94  can slide along the crimp tracks  82  and  84 .  
         [0084]     As the crimp pins  92  and  94  slide along the crimp tracks  82  and  84 , the end of the first part  78  of the cam  22  nearest the first crimp pin  92  can be shifted, as shown by arrow  124 , into the channel  18 , and the end of the second part  80  of the cam  22  nearest the second crimp pin  94  can be shifted, as shown by arrow  126 , into the channel  18 . The first hub engagements  96  can be guided, in contact or in proximity, by the hubs  98  and  102 .  
         [0085]     The first part  78  can be brought closer to the second part  80 , as shown by arrows  128 . The portion of the channel  18  that passes through the cam  22  can have a crimped channel radius  130 . The crimped channel radius  130  can be less than or about equal to the channel radius  40 . The crimped channel radius  130  can be from about 0.2 mm (0.007 in.) to about 1.1 mm (0.045 in.), for example about 0.76 mm (0.030 in.). The channel center  42  in the cam  22  can be unparallel with the channel center  42  outside of the cam  22 .  
         [0086]     The force grasping the guidewire  116  exerted by the vise body  2  can by applied across all or part the area of the surface of the cam  22  along the channel  18 , and possibly across the area of the surface of the first and/or second sections  4  and/or  6  along the channel  18  adjacent to the cam  22 . The guidewire  116  can be released from the vise body  2  by rotating the first section  4  and possibly the second section  6  in the opposite directions from those directions shown in  FIG. 26 .  
         [0087]     It is apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to this disclosure, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Elements shown with any embodiment are exemplary for the specific embodiment and can be used on other embodiments within this disclosure.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0