The present disclosure provides an improved guidewire assembly including a sensor disposed on a distal portion thereof and a proximal connector disposed on a proximal portion thereof for electrically coupling the guidewire assembly to an external device. The proximal connector comprises at least one proximal contact and at least one reflowed insulative element disposed adjacent the at least one proximal contact.

A guidewire support accessory includes one or more hollow tubular sections, each of the hollow tubular sections including a first end and an opposing second end for individually supporting a plurality of medical guidewires. A connector is disposed at the first end. Each of the one or more hollow tubular sections is sized and configured to receive a medical guidewire maintained in a coiled arrangement. The accessory includes at least one clamp configured to releasably retain a guidewire in the coiled arrangement, as well as at least one wiping or cleaning feature.

A guidewire having a first end and a second end, and comprising two or more guidewire modules. Each guidewire module has a first end and a second end. Each guidewire module is configured to be attachable to a second guidewire module by at least one of: attaching the first end of the guidewire module with the second end of the second guidewire module, and attaching the second end of the guidewire module with the first end of the second guidewire module.

A method of manufacturing tubing suitable for use as a component of a medical device, such as a catheter body, and the real-time adjustment of characteristics of the tubing as it passes from one reel to another reel during manufacture. Thus, a length of tubing is manufactured that includes a plurality of segments of different flexibilities and the length of tubing is then cut into a plurality of sub-lengths of tubing that are suitable for use as a component of a medical device. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a length of catheter tubing comprises: extruding a base layer; overlaying a braided layer on the base layer; overlaying a sub-jacket layer over the braided layer; overlaying an outer jacket on the jacket sub-layer; and heating at least a portion the jacket sub-layer to change a characteristic of the length of catheter tubing.

A modular guidewire system includes at least one guidewire module having a solid polygonal shaped prism extending from a body of the guidewire module at a first end and a recess having a polygonal prism shape at a second end. The modular guidewire system also includes at least one guidewire tip module having a tip at a first end and connecting end at a second end, the connecting end including a solid polygonal shaped prism extending from a body of the guidewire tip module or a recess having a polygonal prism shape. A first guidewire module is attachable to a first guidewire tip module by inserting the solid polygonal shaped prism of the guidewire module into the polygonal prism shaped recess of the guidewire tip module, or inserting the solid polygonal shaped prism of the guidewire tip module into the polygonal prism shaped recess of the guidewire module.

Intravascular devices, systems and methods of fabricating the same are provided. In one embodiment, an intravascular system includes an intravascular guidewire that includes a flexible elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, at least one electronic component secured to the distal portion of the flexible elongate member, and a locking section integral with a metal core of the flexible elongate member at the proximal portion of the flexible elongate member. The metal core has a first diameter. The locking section includes a first subsection and a second subsection. The first subsection has a second of diameter smaller than the first diameter and the second subsection transitions between the first diameter and the second diameter.

In various examples, a guidewire with tactile feel is described. The guidewire includes an elongate core wire including a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis extending along a length of the core wire from the distal end to the proximal end. A grip portion is disposed on the core wire. The grip portion is configured to provide tactile feel to a user of the guidewire. In some examples, a method for making the guidewire is also described.

To provide a guide wire shaping mold that reduces damage to a blood vessel by folding back a tip end of the guide wire and do not require heating treatment, and a guide wire shaping method using the guide wire shaping mold. A guide wire shaping mold configured to shaping by reducing an annular diameter of the guide wire in which a tip end is annularly arranged, the guide wire shaping mold includes a wire shaping portion configured such that an annular portion of the guide wire is arranged, and a wire drawing path formed in a passage way shape, communicating with the wire shaping portion, and configured to retract the guide wire in a linear direction and in a base end direction.

A guidewire for use in penetrating through complex and stenosed lesions. The distal tip of the guidewire has a roughened surface to increase frictional engagement with calcified and fibrous tissue to increase the penetration of the distal tip and the guidewire into and through the lesion and reduce the likelihood of deflection of the guidewire tip. The average surface roughness of the distal tip is in the range from 1 micron to 200 microns.

A device and a method for shaping a wire used in medical procedures, such as a guidewire used in conjunction with catheters. The device includes a body having a working face, and the body includes a wire-shaping portion, the wire-shaping portion having an aperture defined therein which extends from the working face along an aperture axis. The apertures include a flared section and a tip receiving section connected to the flared section, where the tip receiving section is shaped and sized for receiving a tip of the wire therein and maintaining a position of the tip of the wire while a bending force is exerted on the wire towards the working face. In one embodiment, the wire-shaping portion has a mound-shaped portion projecting from the working face from which the aperture extends, which enables to curve the wire in a smooth shape that follows the mound-shaped portion.