Medical devices for reducing surface contact between an outer surface of a medical device and a luminal surface of another medical device or body cavity. An illustrative medical device may comprise an elongate shaft extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a coil disposed about a distal end region of the elongate shaft, and an atraumatic tip secured to a distal end of the coil and the distal end of the elongate shaft. The elongate shaft may include a plurality of grooves and a plurality of ridges formed in an outer surface thereof and extending between the proximal end of the elongate shaft and a proximal end of the coil.

Guide wire apparatuses and methods. Guide wires may be utilized for guiding a delivery apparatus, for example a transcatheter mitral valve delivery apparatus to replace a native mitral valve. A guide wire may include a core body having a length, and an outer layer having a length and extending around the core body and along the length of the core body. A guide wire may include an intermediate layer positioned between the core body and the outer layer and configured to be retracted relative to the core body and the outer layer along the length of the core body and the length of the outer layer.

A catheter device for repositioning or explanting an implantable medical device comprises an outer catheter, and a steerable catheter extending through the outer catheter, wherein the outer catheter is axially movable with respect to the steerable catheter. A snare catheter extends through the steerable catheter, wherein the snare catheter is axially movable relative to the steerable catheter. A mandrel may extend through the snare catheter and comprising a distal end, wherein the mandrel is axially movable relative to the snare catheter. A snare may be arranged on the distal end of the mandrel for establishing a connection to the implantable medical device, wherein the snare, by moving the mandrel with respect to the snare catheter, is at least partially retractable into the snare catheter.