Patent ID: 8556914

Claim:
A medical guidewire comprising: an elongated non-coiled tubular member extending along a longitudinal axis and defining an inner lumen and having an outer surface, the tubular member including a proximal section, a distal section, a proximal end, and a distal end; the distal section including a plurality of angled slots defined therein that form a generally spiral shaped pattern about the longitudinal axis, the distal section having an outer diameter; wherein the plurality of angled slots are disposed at a non-normal angle relative to the longitudinal axis; and the proximal section having an outer diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the distal section; wherein the inner lumen is at least partially disposed within each of the proximal and distal sections; wherein the elongated non-coiled tubular member includes a distal tip member attached at the distal end such that the inner lumen has a closed distal end.