US Patent:
20080306453, Dec 11, 2008
Inventors:
James C. Elsesser - Bloomington IN, US
Don Patterson - Bloomington IN, US
Jakob A. Richart - Bloomington IN, US
Assignee:
Cook Incorporated - Bloomington IN
International Classification:
A61M 25/09
Abstract:
A coupling wire guide and an improved method for bonding a mandrel to a tracking tip in a reliable and long-lasting manner are provided. The coupling wire guide includes a mandrel connected to a tracking tip. The mandrel includes a distal portion, including first and second portions integral to the mandrel, the second portion being wider than the first portion. The tracking tip includes a first tubular section and a second tubular section adapted to receive a previously introduced wire guide therein. The first tubular section is disposed over and bonded to the first and second portions to form the coupling wire guide. A coil may be attached to the distal portion upstream of the second portion. In a preferred embodiment, the second portion is a spherical structure adhesively bonded to the first tubular section. Use of a medical grade adhesive in conjunction with the second portion has been surprisingly found to increase tensile joint strength and decrease tensile joint strength variability.