Patent ID: 8292900

Claim:
A method of advancing a branch guidewire into a branch vessel of a vessel bifurcation using a wiring assist device, the wiring assist device including a first guidewire housing member and a second guidewire housing member, the first guidewire housing member having a longitudinal axis and defining a first guidewire lumen, the second guidewire housing member defining a second guidewire lumen and having a distal end portion including an open distal end through which the second guidewire may advance distally, the distal end portion including an activatable material activatable to move the second guidewire housing member from a first directional arrangement to a second directional arrangement, the first directional arrangement providing a parallel arrangement of the second guidewire relative to the longitudinal axis, and the second directional arrangement providing an angled arrangement of the second guidewire relative to the longitudinal axis, the method comprising: (a) positioning a main guidewire in a main vessel of the vessel bifurcation; (b) positioning a branch guidewire adjacent the vessel bifurcation; (c) advancing the first guidewire housing member over the main guidewire and the second guidewire housing member over the branch guidewire to the vessel bifurcation with the second guidewire housing member in the first directional arrangement, wherein the first directional arrangement provides a parallel arrangement of the branch guidewire relative to the main guidewire; (d) activating the activatable material, thereby moving the second guidewire housing member from the first directional arrangement to the second directional arrangement; (e) directing the branch guidewire into the branch vessel with the second guidewire housing member in the second directional arrangement, wherein the second directional arrangement provides an angled orientation of the branch guidewire relative to the main guidewire; (f) withdrawing the wiring assist device from the main vessel while maintaining the main guidewire in the main vessel and maintaining the branch guidewire in the branch vessel; and (g) advancing a medical device over the main and branch guidewires.