Patent ID: 8211087

Claim:
An elongate engagement member for use with an elongate medical device comprising a tubular member having a plurality of lumens extending through substantially the entire length of the tubular member, at least one of said plurality of lumens comprising a passageway configured for the passage of a wire guide there through, the passageway comprising a coupling region configured to couple with a wire guide, the coupling region extending between a distal port in a distal end of the tubular member and a proximal opening disposed in a side wall of the tubular member, the proximal opening being spaced a substantial distance from a proximal end of the tubular member and a relatively shorter distance from the distal end of the tubular member, wherein the elongate engagement member is configured to engage and releasably secure a wire guide coupled with the elongate medical device and prevent relative movement between the wire guide and the elongate medical device, the elongate engagement member being configured to engage the wire guide at a location adjacent to the proximal opening, wherein the elongate engagement member comprises an elongate shaft configured for passage through the passageway of the tubular member, the elongate shaft having a non-expandable distal end that is deformable and configured to simultaneously frictionally engage an exterior surface of the wire guide and an inner wall of the passageway at a location within the coupling region so as to prevent movement of the wire guide through the coupling region of the tubular member, and wherein the non-expandable distal end of the shaft comprises an initial non-engaged width when not engaged with the wire guide, and a second engaged width when engaged with the wire guide, the second engaged width being smaller than the initial non-engaged width.