Patent ID: 7789839
Filing Date: 2010-09-07
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. An elongated guide wire for use in a surgical or other procedure for accessing a remote site in the body of a human or animal subject, the guide wire defining a longitudinally extending central axis, the guide wire extending axially between a distal end and a proximal end, the guide wire comprising an elongated core wire extending from the proximal end and terminating in a distal portion adjacent the distal end of the guide wire, the distal portion of the core wire being of substantially rectangular transverse cross-section defining a pair of spaced apart major sufaces and a pair of spaced apart minor surfaces extending between the major surfaces, the major surfaces of the distal portion of the core wire converging towards the distal end, the distal portion adjacent the distal end of the guide wire further defining a central major plane lying intermediate the major surfaces and bisecting the minor surfaces, and a central minor plane lying intermediate the minor surfaces and bisecting the major surfaces, wherein the distal portion of the core wire is bent into a curved configuration in the central major plane for forming an alignment portion lying in the central major plane and extending from the bend at an angle greater than zero relative to the central axis for facilitating guiding of the guide wire into a branched vessel of the subject.