Patent ID: 8353849

Claim:
A guide wire comprising: an elongated member comprised of a straight main body portion and a curved distal portion positioned on a distal side of the straight main body portion; the straight main body portion being straight and possessing an axis; the curved distal portion of the elongated member comprising a first curve portion, a second curve portion and a third curve portion, each of the first, second and third curve portions having a shape that is curved in a state of the guide wire in which an external force is not applied to the guide wire; the first curve portion being more flexible than the main body portion; the first curve portion immediately following a distal end of the straight main body portion and curving in a direction of curvature; the second curve portion being positioned distally of the first curve portion; the second curve portion curving in a direction of curvature that is opposite the direction of curvature of the first curve portion; the second curve portion being more flexible than the first curve portion, the second curve portion possessing a vertex; the third curve portion being positioned distally of the second curve portion, the third curve portion possessing a vertex; the third curve portion curving in a direction opposite the direction of curvature of the second curve portion; wherein a line contacting both the first curve portion and the third curve portion forms an obtuse angle with respect to the axis of the main body portion; the line contacting both the first curve portion and the third curve portion is a first line, a second line parallel to the first line contacts the second curve portion, and the elongated member possesses a distal most tip positioned between the first and second lines, wherein the first line, the second line, and the axis of the straight main body portion all extend along a common plane; and the entirety of the guide wire between the vertex of the second curve portion and the vertex of the third curve portion is positioned between the first and second lines.