Guide wire utilizing a nickel—titanium alloy having high elastic modulus in the martensitic phase

摘要

Guide wire devices fabricated from a linear pseudo-elastic Ni—Ti alloy and methods for their manufacture. The Ni—Ti alloy that includes nickel, titanium, and about 3 atomic % (at %) to about 30 at % niobium (Nb). Cold working the Ni—Ti alloy stabilizes the alloy's martensitic phase and yields a linear pseudo-elastic microstructure where reversion to the austenite phase is retarded or altogether blocked. The martensitic phase of cold worked, linear pseudo-elastic Ni—Ti—Nb alloy has an elastic modulus that is considerably higher than the comparable cold worked, linear pseudoelastic binary Ni—Ti alloy. This yields a guide wire device that has better torque response and steerability as compared to cold worked, linear pseudoelastic binary Ni—Ti alloy or superelastic binary Ni—Ti alloy.

主权项

1. A guide wire device, comprising:
an elongated shaft member having a proximal section and a distal section; at least a portion of the elongated shaft member being fabricated from a cold worked nickel-titanium (Ni—Ti) alloy comprising nickel (Ni), titanium (Ti), and niobium (Nb),
wherein Ni is present in the Ni—Ti alloy in an amount ranging from about 36.5 atomic % (at %) to about 50 at %, Ti is present in the Ni—Ti alloy in an amount ranging from about 33.5 at % to about 47 at %, Nb is present in the Ni—Ti alloy in an amount ranging from about 3 at % to about 30 at %, and Ni is present in the Ni—Ti alloy in an amount about 2 at % to 4 at % higher than the amount of Ti, andwherein the cold worked Ni—Ti alloy exhibits linear pseudoelastic behavior.