Reduced force device for intravascular access and guidewire placement

Inventors

Bagwell, Roger B • Clement, Ryan S • Mulvihill, Maureen L • Scruggs, Casey A • Snook, Kevin A

Assignees

Actuated Medical Inc

Abstract

A device for penetrating tissue with reduced force and placing a guidewire is provided. The device includes a driving actuator generating reciprocating motion at less than 20 kHz. A penetrating member having a lumen dimensioned to accommodate a guidewire is provided, and may be coaxial or axially offset from the driving actuator. A coupler mechanically connects the driving actuator and the penetrating member, transferring the reciprocating motion to the penetrating member. At least one frictional member facilitates the movement of the guidewire through the lumen for placement at the target tissue. The frictional member(s) may be operated manually or by a guidewire actuator. A housing including a channel also dimensioned to accommodate the guidewire may also be provided, and may further include the frictional member(s) for facilitating movement of the guidewire. A side port may also be included at the penetrating member or coupler for introduction of the guidewire.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a device for guidewire placement that uses an electrically activated driving actuator configured to generate repetitive reciprocating motion at a frequency less than 20 kHz in an axial direction. The repetitive reciprocating axial motion is sufficient to reduce the force needed to penetrate living being tissue when the driving actuator is activated.

The device includes a penetrating member having an open distal end and an opposite open proximal end, and a lumen extending between the open distal and proximal ends and dimensioned to accommodate a guidewire. A coupler in mechanical communication connects the driving actuator and the penetrating member and transmits the repetitive reciprocating motion to the penetrating member to move it with the repetitive reciprocating motion at a frequency less than 20 kHz in the axial direction during penetration.

To facilitate guidewire movement through the lumen, the device further includes at least one frictional member that selectively engages the guidewire. In the described embodiments associated with the claims, the frictional member rotates to move the guidewire in the lumen.

Claims Coverage

The document provides two independent claims. Both independently cover guidewire placement devices with an electrically activated axial reciprocating driving actuator operating at a frequency less than 20 kHz to reduce penetration force, a penetrating member with a guidewire lumen, a coupler transmitting the reciprocating motion, and frictional members that engage and facilitate guidewire movement; each independent claim then narrows actuator type and/or guidewire advancement structure in the independent language.

Overall claim coverage centers on a guidewire-placement device combining a sub-20 kHz electrically activated axial reciprocating driving actuator, a penetrating member with a guidewire-sized lumen, a mechanical coupler transmitting the reciprocation to the penetrating member, and frictional members that engage the guidewire to facilitate its movement; one independent claim further specifies rotating frictional members to move the guidewire, and the other independent claim further specifies an actuator comprising at least one of a voice coil, piezoelectric element, or flextensional transducer.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications