Patent ID: 7402141

Claim:
A guidewire system for use in a catheterization procedure in a human blood vessel, the system including: a first wire, formed substantially of metal, the first wire configured for percutaneous insertion in the blood vessel, the first wire having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a length dimension therebetween, and wherein the first wire includes an opening adjacent the proximal end and an opening adjacent the distal end, and a central lumen communicating therebetween, the central lumen defining an inner diameter, the first wire having a generally cylindrical outer surface defining an outer diameter, the first wire defining a central longitudinal axis along its length, the first wire further having a handle coupled adjacent the proximal end for manipulation of the first wire about and along the central axis; a second wire, formed substantially of metal, the second wire configured for percutaneous insertion in the blood vessel over the first wire, the second wire having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a length dimension therebetween, and wherein the second wire includes an opening adjacent the proximal end and an opening adjacent the distal end, and a central lumen communicating therebetween, the central lumen defining an inner diameter, the second wire having a generally cylindrical outer surface defining an outer diameter, the second wire defining a central longitudinal axis along its length, the second wire further having a handle coupled adjacent the proximal end for manipulation of the second wire about and along the central axis, a third wire, formed substantially of metal, the third wire configured for percutaneous insertion in the blood vessel over the second wire, the third wire having a proximal end and a distal end and defining a length dimension therebetween, and wherein the third wire includes an opening adjacent the proximal end and an opening adjacent the distal end, and a central lumen communicating therebetween, the central lumen defining an inner diameter, the third wire having a generally cylindrical outer surface defining an outer diameter, the third wire further having a handle coupled adjacent the proximal end for manipulation of the third wire about and along the central axis, and wherein, with the first, second, and third wires coupled together, any of the handles of the first, second, and third wires may be used to manipulate all three wires, and also wherein the wires may be manipulated relative to one another by simultaneous use of two or three of the handles, and further wherein the first wire is formed substantially of a nitinol alloy, the second wire is formed substantially of a nitinol alloy, and the third wire is formed substantially of a nitinol alloy, and further wherein the compositions of the alloys are varied to produce the greater rigidity of the third wire with respect to the second wire and the greater rigidity of the second wire with respect to the first wire.