Patent ID: 7857770

Claim:
A guide wire advancer assembly comprising: a guide wire; a guide wire storage tube in which said guide wire is at least partially disposed; and an advancer body comprising a longitudinal axis which is co-linear with said guide wire, wherein the body comprises: a first portion adapted to allow a user to advance a guide wire along the longitudinal axis using a finger and a thumb to directly engage the guide wire, with the first portion at least supporting the guide wire at two axially spaced locations while permitting access between the two axially spaced locations to the guide wire for guide wire advancement; and a second portion having a longitudinally extending guide wire platform spaced from the first portion and along which the guide wire is exposed and which is adapted to allow a user to advance the guide wire along the longitudinal axis using one of the finger or the thumb to engage the guide wire, said guide wire being urgeable by said finger or thumb along the longitudinal axis when being pressed by said finger or thumb against the platform.