Patent ID: 8202254

Claim:
A method of inserting a guidewire into a patient comprising the steps of: providing a catheter guidewire tube having a body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a tube passageway extending between the distal end and the proximal end, wherein the tube has a first diameter; and a collar fixedly connected to the distal end, wherein the collar comprises a longitudinal passage having a second diameter, larger than the first diameter, and wherein the collar further comprises a distal opening having a third diameter, smaller than the second diameter, a guidewire being disposed within the tube such that a distal end of the guidewire extends from the tube distal end; releasably inserting a proximal end of a guidewire locking device over the guidewire distal end, through the collar and into the distal end of the tube, wherein at least one finger of the guidewire locking device is received into the tube passageway and engages the tube and is caused thereby to releasable engage the guidewire under bias along a longitudinal length to inhibit guidewire movement; distally disposing the guidewire locking device from the distal end of the guidewire tube such that the at least one finger is translated from the tubular passage to the collar and is biased away from the guidewire to permit guidewire axial movement; and advancing the guidewire distally through the guidewire locking device, for entering into the patient.