Patent ID: 6872192

Claim:
A method of facilitating the attachment of a catheter or elongated instrument to a guide-wire or other elongated guide member, without having access to the ends of said wire or member, comprising: a) supplying an attachment tool comprising a first and second half, a hinge arranged to connect said halves, said hinge allowing relative pivoting of said first half with respect to said second half such that said halves come together closing said tool, said first half comprising a pair of raised V-shape protrusions, said second half comprising a depression wherein said protrusions are forced into said depression upon the closing of said tool, thereby causing alignment of said first and second half, said first half further comprising a longitudinal bore arranged to accept a guide-wire or other elongated guide member, said tool further comprising a proximal end and a distal end, said first and second halves each further comprising a half-funnel shaped entry port section located at the proximal end of said tool, whereby both of said entry port sections create a smooth funnel shaped entry port for easy catheter or instrument insertion, following the closing of said tool with said guide-wire or member located between said protrusions, said entry port arranged to guide said catheter or instrument to said guide-wire or elongated guide member, to facilitate attachment of said distal tip connector thereon; b) supplying a catheter or instrument to be attached to a guide-wire or elongated guide member; c) closing said attachment tool on said guide-wire or elongated guide member; d) inserting said catheter or instrument into said entry port and applying a force thereto until resistance is felt; and e) opening said tool and removing wire or member from said longitudinal bore.