Patent ID: 8652106

Claim:
A catheter guidewire tube comprising: a tube body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a tube passageway extending between the distal end and the proximal end, wherein the tube body has a first inner diameter, and wherein the tube body is adapted to permit relative axial movement of a guidewire within the tube body; and a collar fixedly connected to the tube distal end, wherein the collar comprises a continuous longitudinal passage therethrough, the longitudinal passage extending distally of the tube body distal end and expanding to form a generally enclosed chamber having a second inner diameter, larger than the first inner diameter, and wherein the collar further comprises a distal end wall defining a distal opening having a fixed third inner diameter during use, smaller than the first inner diameter wherein the enclosed chamber is sufficiently large to allow a biasing member of a guidewire straightener to expand within the enclosed chamber and the distal opening is sized such that the biasing member is not easily pulled through the distal opening.