Abstract: Medical devices are made from a self-stiffening composite including a base material, a polymerizer and a corresponding activator for the polymerizer. The medical devices have an initial configuration in which the polymerizer and activator are separated from each other and an activated configuration in which the polymerizer and activator are brought into contact with each other. Polymerization is triggered when the polymerizer and activator are contacted together, forming a polymer that stiffens the medical device. The medical device may thus be flexible in the initial configuration so it can be easily advanced through tortuous passageways during delivery to a body lumen and further have sufficient radial strength in the activated configuration to hold open the body lumen after implantation.

Abstract: A guidewire for advancing a medical device such as a catheter through a patient's body lumen which has an elongated core with proximal and distal core sections, a flexible tubular member such as a coil on the distal end and an intermediate portion, preferably formed at least in part by a polymeric sheath proximal to the coil having contact regions and recessed non-contact regions.

Abstract: A guidewire for advancing a medical device such as a catheter through a patient's body lumen which has an elongated core with proximal and distal core sections, a flexible tubular member such as a coil on the distal end and an intermediate portion, preferably formed at least in part by a polymeric sheath proximal to the coil having contact regions and recessed non-contact regions.