Abstract: An intravascular guide wire having two core materials joined together without the use of a connector tube or sleeve, the core materials being stainless steel and psuedoelastic metal alloy, nitinol. The core materials are joined to each other through an intermediate transition piece made essentially of nickel, which is welded on either side to the two core materials. In alternative embodiments, the intermediate piece may have different shapes to provide different strengths and advantages as may be required.

Abstract: A guide wire having different polymers applied to different components thereof so as to differentially modify the performance characteristics of such components in order to achieve a desired performance behavior for such guide wire. A guide wire having a tapered distal coil coated with a highly conforming polymer while sections proximal thereto are coated with a substantially less conforming polymer will yield a guide wire that is more easily advanced through vasculature while nonetheless providing tactile feedback.

Abstract: An expandable frame for use in conjunction with an embolic filtering device includes a Beta titanium alloy, and more particularly, a Beta III titanium alloy. The expandable frame may be coupled to the distal end of a guide wire. The guide wire may also include Beta III titanium. The Beta III titanium material can be processed to have an elastic modulus about twice that of other expandable frame or guide wire materials, thereby allowing a reduction of the cross-sectional area of the frame and/or guide wire while maintaining the bending stiffness of the frame and/or guide wire. The Beta III titanium also improves manufacturability of the frames, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

Abstract: An expandable frame for an embolic filtering device used to capture embolic debris in a body vessel includes a first half frame having a first control arm connected to a second control arm by a partial loop and a second half frame having a first control arm connected to a second control arm by a partial loop. The partial loops cooperatively form a composite loop for attachment of a filtering element which will expand in the body vessel to capture embolic debris entrained in the fluid of the vessel. The expandable frame and filtering element can be mounted on a filter support structure, such as a coiled wire, and mounted on a guide wire. The expandable frames includes an articulation region which helps to distribute the strain which can be developed when the frame moves between an expanded and deployed position. The expandable frame may include further strain distributing bends which help distribute strain and increase the bendability of the frame.