Patent ID: 7771370

Claim:
A method for modulating the pressure of a fluid within an expandable portion of a tubular guide wire or catheter, the method comprising the steps of: a) controllably gripping an open, proximal end of a tubular guide wire or catheter with a gripping means comprising a deformable member and a deforming mechanism, the tubular guide wire or catheter passing through the deformable member, the deforming mechanism comprising a lever mechanism arranged to controllably compress the deformable member axially by applying a compressive force directed along a longitudinal axis of the tubular guide wire or catheter to cause the deformable member to move radially inward, thereby gripping of an outside of the tubular guide wire or catheter by the deformable member; b) introducing a fluid into said expandable portion of said tubular guide wire or catheter through said open, proximal end, thereby inflating said expandable portion of said tubular guide wire or catheter to a desired extent; and c) introducing a plastically deformable and not elastically resilient sealing member into said open proximal end of said tubular guide wire or catheter to seal said fluid in said tubular guide wire or catheter.