Patent ID: 8460214

Claim:
A vascular guidewire system comprising, a tubular member which at least partially encloses a core wire, an elongated housing, a first gripper connected with said housing to grip a proximal end portion of said tubular member to hold said proximal end portion of said tubular member against movement relative to said housing, a second gripper disposed in said housing to grip a proximal end portion of said core wire, a first motor having a first axis of rotation, said first motor being disposed in said housing and connected with said second gripper, said first motor being operable to rotate said second gripper and said proximal end portion of said core wire relative to said housing about said first axis of rotation while said first gripper holds the proximal end portion of said tubular member against movement relative to said housing, and a second motor disposed in said housing in a coaxial relationship with said first motor, said second motor having a second axis of rotation which is coincident with said first axis of rotation, said second motor being operable to move said first motor and said second gripper relative to said housing along the second axis of rotation while said first gripper holds the proximal end portion of said tubular member against movement relative to said housing and while said second gripper holds the proximal end portion of said core wire.