Patent ID: 6488637
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: A61L,A61M

Abstract:
A guidewire for guiding a catheter within a body lumen, comprising an elongated, flexible metal wire core having at least a more-proximal non-super elastic portion having a flexibility and a more-distal super-elastic alloy distal section having a flexibility and wherein the more proximal portion and the more distal section are separated by and joined with a mid section, at least a portion of which mid-section varies in flexibility and which flexibility lies in value between the flexibility of the more-proximal portion and the flexibility of the more-distal super-elastic alloy distal section so that the midsection provides a gradual transition in flexibility between the proximal portion and the distal region, and wherein at least the more-proximal portion comprises another material or configuration not included in the more-distal super-elastic alloy distal section.