Patent ID: 7699792

Claim:
A catheter guide wire, comprising an elongated wire shaft ( 2 ) of a flexible material having a proximal end and a distal end ( 3 , 5 ), at least one radiopaque marker ( 9 ) disposed on the wire shaft ( 2 ) adjacent to the distal end ( 3 ), wherein: said at least one marker ( 9 ) comprises a wire coil; said wire shaft comprises a core section ( 8 ) having an outer surface on which said wire coil is disposed; said wire coil is disposed entirely on said core section ( 8 ) of the wire shaft ( 2 ); said wire shaft has shaft sections ( 12 ) adjoining said core section; said core section ( 8 ) has a first diameter (D K ); each of said shaft sections ( 12 ) adjoining said core section ( 8 ) has a second diameter (D E ) that is smaller than said first diameter; two of said shaft sections ( 12 ) are disposed at respective opposite sides of said core section ( 8 ); said core section ( 8 ) has a length (l) that is substantially equal to the length (l) of said wire coil ( 9 ); and said shaft sections ( 12 ) form constricted, flexible catheter guide wire portions at each side of said at least one marker ( 9 ).