Patent ID: 7896820

Claim:
A guide wire comprising: a first wire made of a first material; a second wire made of a second material different from the first material; the first wire being positioned at a distal portion of the guide wire; the second wire being positioned proximally of the first wire; an intermediate member positioned between the first wire and the second wire; the intermediate member comprising a core portion and an outer layer, the outer layer covering an outer periphery of the core portion; the core portion being at least in part made of a material different from material of which the outer layer is made; at least one of the core portion and the outer layer being made of the first material or the second material; the core portion possessing a distal end and a proximal end; the first wire possessing a proximal portion that is joined to a distal portion of the intermediate member; a portion of the first wire located distally of the proximal portion of the first wire possessing an outer diameter that decreases in a distal direction; the second wire possessing a distal portion that is joined to a proximal portion of the intermediate member; the outer diameter of the intermediate member and the outer diameter of the first wire being the same in a first transition region at which the outer layer of the intermediate member transitions to the first wire; the outer diameter of the intermediate member and the outer diameter of the second wire being the same in a second transition region at which the outer layer of the intermediate member transitions to the second wire; the core portion having a cylindrical shape and being a piece entirely separate from both the first wire and the second wire; the core portion and the outer layer are fixed to each other by crimping; and wherein i) a distal most end of the outer layer and a distal most end of the intermediate member lie in a common plane which is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the guide wire; or ii) a proximalmost end of the outer layer and a proximalmost end of the intermediate member lie in a common plane which is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the guide wire.