Patent ID: 8197424

Claim:
A guide wire comprising: an elongated flexible wire body possessing an outer diameter and an external surface; the elongated flexible wire body comprising a distal end portion and a proximal end portion; the elongated flexible wire body comprising a first constant diameter section at which the outer diameter of the elongated flexible wire body is a constant outer diameter; the elongated flexible wire body comprising a second constant diameter section at which the outer diameter of the elongated flexible wire body is a constant outer diameter less than the constant outer diameter of the first constant diameter section; the elongated flexible wire body comprising a tapered section at which the outer diameter of the elongated flexible wire body varies from the constant outer diameter of the first constant diameter section to the constant outer diameter of the second constant diameter section; the tapered section being positioned axially between the first constant diameter section and the second constant diameter section; the first constant diameter section being positioned proximally of the second constant diameter section; the wire body comprising a plurality of radially outward protruding portions spaced apart from one another; the protruding portions extending further radially outwardly than portions of the outer surface of the flexible wire body surrounding the protruding portions so that recessed portions exist between adjacent protruding portions; the guide wire possessing an undulating outermost surface by virtue of the protruding portions and the recessed portions; the protruding portions being located in the first constant diameter section, the tapered section, and the second constant diameter section; the protruding portions having an outermost surface made of a material possessing a first dynamic friction coefficient, the recessed portions having an outermost surface made of a material possessing a second dynamic friction coefficient, wherein the first dynamic friction coefficient is smaller than the second dynamic friction coefficient; wherein the wire body comprises a core and an outer layer overlying the core, the protruding portions overlying the outer layer, the outer layer possessing an exposed surface which is the outermost surface of the recessed portions; and wherein the outer layer is made of a fluorinated resin material and pigment, the protruding portions are made of a fluorinated resin material and pigment, and a content rate of pigment in the protruding portions is smaller than a content rate of pigment in the outer layer.