ELONGATE MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH REMOVABLE CORE GUIDE WIRE EXTENDERS, GUIDE WIRE EXTENDERS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS

摘要

A guide wire extender includes a coupling element for coupling to a proximal portion of a guide wire. Such a configuration enables the introduction of elongate medical instruments that lack rapid exchange features to be introduced into the body of a subject over short, rapid exchange length guide wires. Assemblies that include a guide wire extender within an elongate medical device are also disclosed. Such an assembly may include a configuration that enables a single user to effectively lengthen a guide wire and introduce the elongate medical instrument into a subject's body without significant risk of contaminating the elongate medical instrument. Systems that include a guide wire extender and an elongate medical instrument are also disclosed, as are methods of using the guide wire extender to introduce an elongate medical instrument into the body of a subject.