Abstract: A finishing wire assembly is provided herein that employs features that allow for the finishing wire assembly to be utilized with several different types of leads. Foe example, leads having a variety of different lengths and/or diameters, or other features that vary from lead to lead. The finishing wire assembly is adjustable in its length. For example, a portion of the finishing wire assembly is movable at a proximal portion of the finishing wire assembly, as further described below.

Abstract: A finishing wire assembly employs features that allow for the finishing wire assembly to be utilized with several different types of leads having terminal pins with varying structure, such as different outer or inner diameters for the terminal pins.

Abstract: An intravascular guide wire having at least two core materials joined together without the use of a hypotube. There is a core having a proximal core section with a proximal end and a distal end and a distal core section with a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the proximal core section and the proximal end of the distal core section are ground into complementary shapes, and then placed into a fixture in opposing directions with a small gap in-between the ends to receive a mass of hardened material to wick therein. Once the proximal and distal core sections are bonded, welded, brazed, cemented, or soldered together, the guide wire is then ground to a required outer diameter, depending on the design needs of the specific guide wire.

Abstract: A guide wire having an elongate core member with a flexible body member disposed about and secured to a core paddle in the distal core section of the elongated core member. A shaping element having a proximal portion is juxtaposed to and secured to the core paddle. The portion of the shaping element distally adjacent to the juxtaposed proximal portion and core paddle has a bending stiffness comparable to the combined bending stiffness of the juxtaposed proximal portion and core paddle. The distal portion of the shaping element may taper so as to have a reduced cross-sectional area in the distal direction, where the portion of the shaping element distally adjacent to the juxtaposed proximal portion and core paddle is enlarged.

Abstract: An intravascular guide wire having at least two core materials joined together without the use of a hypotube. There is a core having a proximal core section with a proximal end and a distal end and a distal core section with a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the proximal core section and the proximal end of the distal core section are ground into complementary shapes, and then placed into a fixture in opposing directions with a small gap in-between the ends to receive a mass of hardened material to wick therein. Once the proximal and distal core sections are bonded, welded, brazed, cemented, or soldered together, the guide wire is then ground to a required outer diameter, depending on the design needs of the specific guide wire.

Abstract: A guidewire for intraluminal advancement of a medical device within a patient which has an elongate core member with a flexible body member disposed on a distal section thereof. In one embodiment, the distal section of the elongate core member has at least one flexible segment with at least one pair of opposed tapered or parallel faces. Preferably the flexible segment with the tapered or parallel faces is disposed at the distal end of the elongate core and forms a shapable segment.

Abstract: An improved guidewire for advancing a catheter within a body lumen which has a high strength proximal core section, a flexible distal core section preferably formed of pseudoelastic alloy and a connecting element to provide a torque transmitting coupling between the distal end of the proximal core section and the proximal end of the distal core section. The ends of the core sections are secured within the inner lumen of the connecting element by means of a hardened mass of bonding material. The wall of the connecting element is provided with an opening to facilitate the introduction of the hardenable bonding material in the pourable state into the inner lumen of the connecting element. Preferably at least one of the ends of the core sections are configured, e.g. enlarged in at least one dimension compared to an adjacent part of the core section, to develop a mechanical interlock within the mass of hardened material.

Abstract: An intravascular guide wire having at least two core materials joined together without the use of a hypotube. There is a core having a proximal core section with a proximal end and a distal end and a distal core section with a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the proximal core section and the proximal end of the distal core section are ground into complementary shapes, and then placed into a fixture in opposing directions with a small gap in-between the ends to receive a mass of hardened material to wick therein. Once the proximal and distal core sections are bonded, welded, brazed, cemented, or soldered together, the guide wire is then ground to a required outer diameter, depending on the design needs of the specific guide wire.

Abstract: A guide wire having an elongate core member with a flexible body member disposed about and secured to a core paddle in the distal core section of the elongated core member. A shaping element having a proximal portion is juxtaposed to and secured to the core paddle. The portion of the shaping element distally adjacent to the juxtaposed proximal portion and core paddle has a bending stiffness comparable to the combined bending stiffness of the juxtaposed proximal portion and core paddle. The distal portion of the shaping element may taper so as to have a reduced cross-sectional area in the distal direction, where the portion of the shaping element distally adjacent to the juxtaposed proximal portion and core paddle is enlarged.

Abstract: A guidewire for intraluminal advancement of a medical device within a patient which has an elongate core member with a flexible body member disposed on a distal section thereof. In one embodiment, the distal section of the elongate core member has at least one flexible segment with at least one pair of opposed tapered or parallel faces. Preferably the flexible segment with the tapered or parallel faces is disposed at the distal end of the elongate core and forms a shapable segment.

Abstract: A guidewire for guiding a medical device within a patient which has an elongate core member with a flexible body member disposed about and secured to a distal core section and a flexible core segment or flexible core segment which has a first pair of opposed faces which define a first transverse dimension that tapers from a first value to a second larger value and a second pair of opposed faces which define a second transverse dimension that tapers from a first value to a second smaller value.

Abstract: A guidewire for intraluminal advancement of a medical device within a patient which has an elongate core member with a flexible body member disposed on a distal section thereof. In one embodiment, the distal section of the elongate core member has at least one flexible segment with at least one pair of opposed tapered or parallel faces. Preferably the flexible segment with the tapered or parallel faces is disposed at the distal end of the elongate core and forms a shapable segment.

Abstract: An improved guidewire for advancing a catheter within a body lumen which has a high strength proximal core section, a flexible distal core section preferably formed of pseudoelastic alloy and a connecting element to provide a torque transmitting coupling between the distal end of the proximal core section and the proximal end of the distal core section. The ends of the core sections are secured within the inner lumen of the connecting element by means of a hardened mass of bonding material. The wall of the connecting element is provided with an opening to facilitate the introduction of the hardenable bonding material in the pourable state into the inner lumen of the connecting element. Preferably at least one of the ends of the core sections are configured, e.g. enlarged in at least one dimension compared to an adjacent part of the core section, to develop a mechanical interlock within the mass of hardened material.

Abstract: An improved guidewire for advancing a catheter within a body lumen which has a high strength proximal core section, a flexible distal core section preferably formed of pseudoelastic alloy and a connecting element to provide a torque transmitting coupling between the distal end of the proximal core section and the proximal end of the distal core section. The ends of the core sections are secured within the inner lumen of the connecting element by means of a hardened mass of bonding material. The wall of the connecting element is provided with an opening to facilitate the introduction of the hardenable bonding material in the pourable state into the inner lumen of the connecting element. Preferably at least one of the ends of the core sections are configured, e.g. enlarged in at least one dimension compared to an adjacent part of the core section, to develop a mechanical interlock within the mass of hardened material.

Abstract: An improved guidewire for advancing a catheter within a body lumen which as a high strength proximal core section, a flexible distal core section preferably formed of pseudoelastic alloy and a connecting element to provide a torque transmitting coupling between the distal end of the proximal core section and the proximal end of the distal core section. The ends of the core sections are secured within the inner lumen of the connecting element by means of a hardened mass of bonding material. The wall of the connecting element is provided with an opening to facilitate the introduction of the hardenable bonding material in the pourable state into the inner lumen of the connecting element. Preferably at least one of the ends of the core sections are configured, e.g. enlarged in at least one dimension compared to an adjacent part of the core section, to develop a mechanical interlock within the mass of hardened material.