Abstract: A guide wire for controlling the attitude of the tip of a catheter in a vascular system. The guide wire has an elongated shaft with a portion near the distal end having one or more of a series of bends along the length of the intermediate portion of the shaft. The bends may be preferably formed in a single plane coincident with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and the guide wire also preferably includes a helical coil extending over the intermediate portion of the shaft and conforming to the bends in the shaft. In an alternative embodiment, the curves may be formed in a plurality of planes at least one of which is coplanar with the axis of the guide wire.