Patent ID: 8133190

Claim:
A coupling wire guide for coupling to a previously introduced wire guide in intracorporeal procedures, the coupling wire guide comprising: a main body having a distal portion with a coiled outer wire; and a coupling tip positioned at the distal portion of the main body, the coupling tip including a first section connected to the main body; a second section defining an axial passageway and a longitudinal axis having a distal opening and a proximal opening, the axial passageway sized to receive the previously introduced wire guide therein; and a third section interconnecting the first and second sections, the third section including a strip extending axially and circumferentially that defines a complementary axially and circumferentially extending opening in communication with the proximal opening, the axially and circumferentially extending opening being coaxial with the distal portion of the main body, the strip being of a semi-annular cross-sectional shape and following a curved helical path extending around the longitudinal axis, the helical path making less than one turn; wherein both the distal portion and the first section are constructed of nitinol, the distal portion and the first section being welded together using the native nitinol material of the distal portion and first section.