Patent ID: 8308763

Claim:
A patient treatment device, comprising: an elongated intravenous guidewire that includes: a first flexible branch; a second flexible branch fixedly secured relative to the first flexible branch at a first location and releasably secured relative to the first flexible branch at a second location in a first configuration, at least one of the first and second flexible branches being movable relative to the other between a first position in which the first and second branches form a closed shape, and a second position in which the first and second branches form an open shape with one or both branches moved relative to the other of the one or both branches to produce a second configuration different than the first configuration at the second location; and a connector releasably securing the first and second branches at the second location, the connector being movable relative to the first and second branches between a secured position with the first and second branches in the first position and a released position with the first and second branches in the second position, the connector being movable with the first and second branches for changing a distance between the branches when the first and second branches form a closed shape.