GUIDEWIRE FOR CROSSING OCCLUSIONS IN BLOOD VESSELS

摘要

A guidewire (10) for penetrating an occlusion (62) within a duct or vessel, such as a blood vessel, has an elongated main guidewire body (20) of a small, first diameter. The guidewire is terminated at its distal end with an enlarged resilient tip portion (24) having a lubricious outer surface (22), and is shaped and constructed to penetrate the occlusion. The guidewire body is constructed to be relatively flexible in the distal end corresponding to the enlarged tip and relatively stiffer in portions proximal thereof for manipulation of the wire from its proximal end to cause the distal tip portion to penetrate the occlusion and form a passage therein. In an embodiment, an outer sleeve (100, 206) is slid over the main body and butting against the proximal end of the enlarged tip portion contributes to axial stiffness of the combination to enable manipulation through the occlusion. After placement this sleeve is removed and a dilatation catheter (50) is slid over the main body, and enters the occlusion behind the enlarged tip portion.