Patent ID: 8361102

Claim:
A guide wire for use in a surgical procedure, the guide wire including: a shank with a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the distal end portion having a first configuration while inside a constraining through bore of a surgical tool and a second configuration when outside said through bore, said second configuration presenting a larger projected transverse area than the first configuration, said distal end portion being constructed to provide for substantial recoverable deformation from the second configuration back to the first configuration upon axially withdrawing back the guide wire through said through bore of the surgical device; said distal end portion includes a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein each of said first and second end portions are deflected outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the guide wire at a bend point when in the second configuration, wherein said first end portion is longer than said second end portion; said first end portion includes a groove located near free end of said first end portion; said second end portion includes a projection located at free end of said second end portion, wherein said groove permits said projection to fit therein when in said first configuration.