Patent ID: 8535243

Claim:
A medical device, comprising: a metallic tubular member including a tube wall defining an inner diameter and having a wall thickness; a core wire extending within and attached to the tubular member, the core wire having a distal portion with an outer surface; wherein a gap is defined between the outer surface of the core wire and an inner surface of the tubular member; wherein the tubular member has a plurality of slots formed therein; wherein the tubular member includes a first portion having a first length and wherein the tube wall has a constant wall thickness across the first length; wherein the tubular member includes a second portion, wherein the second portion is disposed at a distal end of the medical device, and wherein the second portion has a second length and wherein along an inner surface of the tubular member the tube wall thins in a curved manner so that the inner diameter increases distally across the second length; wherein the length of the second portion is shorter than the length of the first portion; and wherein the distal portion of the core wire extends through the first portion of the tubular member and along the second length to a distal end of the second portion of the tubular member.