A guidewire for backloading and inserting a percutaneous pump affixed to a cannula includes a proximal section made of a first material, with a first diameter, a rounded proximal end, and a distal end. The guidewire also includes a distal section made of a second material, with a second diameter which is greater than the first diameter, a distal end, and a proximal end abutting the distal end of the proximal section. The first material of the proximal section is selected to be softer than a material of the percutaneous pump to reduce damage to the pump during backloading. The distal section of the guidewire is configured to be stiffer than the proximal section to insert the percutaneous pump in a desired location without damaging the guidewire.

A guide wire configured for use in medical magnetic resonance applications includes a multi-lumen wire composed of an electrically nonconductive plastic material. The wire extends continuously from a proximal end region to a distal end region of the guide wire and has at least two separate, axially extending hollow channels, and/or at least two coaxial wires arranged coaxially one inside another and extending continuously from a proximal end region to a distal end region of the guide wire. An axially alternating sequence of rod-shaped, elastic stiffening pieces composed of an electrically conductive, nonmagnetic material having higher bending stiffness than the plastic material of the multi-lumen wire, and electrically nonconductive spacer pieces, is arranged in at least one of the hollow channels. At least one of the coaxial wires is constructed from an axially alternating sequence of rod-shaped, elastic stiffening pieces composed of an electrically conductive, nonmagnetic material and electrically nonconductive spacer pieces.

Guidewires useful for cooperating with catheters may be actively steered and/or provide adjustable stiffness. Angle or curvature of a guidewire, and/or flexural modulus of a guidewire, may be adjusted at one or more locations between ends thereof. Variable stiffness segments may include electrically operated compressible and/or extensible materials. Multiple tensile elements may terminate at different body elements to adjust angle or curvature at multiple locations. Multiple circumferentially and/or radially contractible fiber regions may be provided and distributed over a length of a guidewire. Adjustable flexure elements arranged in or along a guidewire may be electrically operated. A flexible core member may be centrally arranged in a tubular body. A flexible guide wire or track may cooperate with electrically operable motor units.

A guide wire includes a first core shaft, a second core shaft, and a covering portion. The second core shaft is made of a material more susceptible to plastic deformation than a material of the first core shaft, and has a proximal end side joined to a distal end side of the first core shaft. The covering portion covers (i) a joint part between the first and second core shafts, and (ii) at least a part of the second core shaft on a distal end side of the joint part. The guide wire includes a first region where the second core shaft on a distal end side of the joint part is covered by the covering portion, and a second region adjacent to the first region, where the joint part is covered by the covering portion. The first region is more susceptible to plastic deformation than the second region.

In accordance with some implementations, various embodiments of a guidewire or catheter having an elongate core wire are provided. The guidewire includes a core wire having a proximal end, a distal end and is defined by an outer surface between the proximal end and the distal end of the core wire. The core wire has a centerline that traverses the length of the core wire from the proximal end to the distal end of the core wire. The core wire includes a proximal region having a first cross sectional dimension and a distal region having a plurality of sections of different cross-sectional dimension that are smaller than the first cross-sectional dimension. The guidewire further includes a coil wrapped around a distal end portion of the core wire.

A guide wire including a first core shaft made of a superelastic material, and a second core shaft made of a material more susceptible to plastic deformation than of the first core shaft and joined to a distal end side of the first core shaft on a proximal end side. On a joint part between the first core shaft and the second core shaft, the first core shaft and the second core shaft are adjacent to each other in a first direction. A flat portion where a length in the first direction in a transverse section is longer than a length in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction is formed on a distal end portion of the second core shaft.

A guide wire including a first core shaft, a second core shaft, a covering member, and a joint layer. The first core shaft has a first large-diameter portion and a first small-diameter portion, and the second core shaft has a second large-diameter portion and a second small-diameter portion. The covering member covers a contact portion where the first and second small-diameter portions are arranged opposite to each other, and at least a part of each of the first and second small-diameter portions are adjacent to the contact portion. The joint layer joins the covering member with the first and second small-diameter portions inside the member. A length of the covering member is shorter than a sum of the lengths of the first and the second small-diameter portion in the axial direction, and longer than the shorter of the lengths of the first and second small-diameter portions in the axial direction.

A guide wire includes a first core shaft, a second core shaft, a first tubular member, and a second tubular member. The first tubular member is disposed to cover (i) a contact portion where the first core shaft and the second core shaft are arranged opposite to each other so that their central axes coincide, and (ii) a part of each of the first core shaft and the second core shaft, the part being adjacent to the contact portion. The second tubular member, having a tubular shape, covers at least the first tubular member and is fixed to both the first core shaft and the second core shaft.

A guide wire configured for use with existing catheter mapping and navigation systems. The guide wire is made of electrically conductive material and coated in an electrically insulating material. An uncoated region is provided near the guide wire's distal tip. This uncoated region forms a conductive path between the metallic components of the guide wire and the surrounding tissue. The uncoated region effectively becomes an electrode for use in prior art mapping and navigation systems. The mapping and navigation system determines the position of the uncoated region.

A medical device includes: a wire having a proximal end, a distal end, and a body extending between the proximal end and the distal end; and a coil disposed around a segment of the wire, wherein the coil comprises a proximal coil end, a distal coil end, and a coil body extending between the proximal coil end and the distal coil end; wherein the coil body comprises loops made from an elongated member having a cross-section, wherein the cross-section of the elongated member comprises a first side facing the wire, and a second side being opposite the first side and facing away from the wire; and wherein the second side of the cross-section of the elongated member has a higher curvature than the first side of the cross-section of the elongated member.