Patent ID: 6949104

Claim:
A guidewire steering device, comprising: a gripping member including opposed first and second gripping surfaces positioned for selective engagement of a guidewire positioned therebetween; the first gripping surface including a first end and a second end and the second gripping surface including a first end and a second end, the first and second gripping surfaces being oriented to permit selective gripping of a guidewire positioned therebetween; the first end of the first gripping surface and the first end of the second gripping surface being connected by a connecting member extending therebetween, and the second end of the first gripping surface and the second end of the second gripping surface being spaced apart in a manner defining a lateral access slot through which a guidewire may be passed for positioning between the first and second gripping surfaces; a compression member positioned about the gripping member for controlling movement of the first and second gripping surfaces between a gripping orientation in which the first and second gripping surfaces engage a guidewire positioned therebetween and a sliding orientation in which the first and second gripping surfaces are sufficiently spaced to permit free movement of a guidewire therebetween; the compression member including first and second outwardly extending arms which respectively wrap about an exterior surface of the gripping member adjacent the first and second gripping surfaces, each of the first and second outwardly extending arms include respective camming surfaces shaped and dimensioned to engage an outer surface of the gripping member to force the first and second gripping surfaces toward each other when the compression member is moved toward the gripping member.