Patent ID: 7819844

Claim:
An actuatable guidewire stop configured to limit movement of an intravascular device relative to a guidewire having a longitudinal direction, comprising: the guidewire; a locking tube disposed about the guidewire and having a locked configuration, wherein the locking tube is prevented from movement relative to the guidewire, and an unlocked configuration, wherein the locking tube is moveable relative to the guidewire; a tapered locking element having a first end portion constructed as a tip facing the locking tube and a second end portion having a radial dimension sufficiently large to urge the guidewire against an interior wall of the locking tube in the locked configuration, said tapered locking element independently moveable relative to both the guidewire and the locking tube in the unlocked configuration; and an actuator connected to the first end portion of the locking element, wherein upon actuation, the actuator moves the locking element in the longitudinal direction into a radial space between the locking tube and the guidewire and presses the guidewire against a portion of the interior wall of the locking tube that is not in contact with the tapered locking element, thereby placing the locking tube in the locked configuration.