Patent ID: 8083690

Claim:
A convertible guidewire for use in guiding a medical device adapted to be insertable into a human vascular system, the medical device having structure for engaging the convertible guidewire, the convertible guidewire comprising: an inner guidewire having a first outer diameter, the inner guidewire having an extended length to reach from outside a body of a patient having the human vascular system to a desired medical device target delivery site inside the body, the inner guidewire being flexible to a greater degree near a distal end thereof than near a proximal end thereof, the inner guidewire being adapted to be maneuverable through a tortuous path within the vascular system to reach the desired medical device target delivery site; a guidewire converter comprising an elongate tubular structure having a length less than the extended length of the inner guidewire and defining a lumen having an inner diameter, the elongate tubular structure having a second outer diameter that is constant along most the length of guidewire converter and the second outer diameter being such that the structure for engaging is receivable over the second outer diameter to be routed to the desired medical target delivery site, the inner diameter of the lumen being such as to receive the inner guidewire therein for intravascular procedures and the second outer diameter being larger than the first outer diameter; and a locking mechanism operably coupled to the elongate tubular structure, the locking mechanism having a third outer diameter that is less than or equal to the second outer diameter wherein operation of the locking mechanism releasably secures the elongate tubular structure to the inner guidewire such that the convertible guidewire is convertible from a first size when the guidewire converter is secured to the inner guidewire to a second size when the inner guidewire is used alone such that the medical device can be passed over the proximal end of the inner guidewire or over the proximal end of the guidewire converter when the guidewire converter is secured to the inner guidewire by the locking mechanism.