GUIDEWIRE HAVING A DISTAL TIP THAT CAN CHANGE ITS SHAPE WITHIN A VESSEL

摘要

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a guidewire for navigating through body vessels. The guidewire has a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The guidewire has an outer tube with proximal and distal ends. The outer tube is made from a material exhibiting substantially no shape memory retention. The guidewire includes a flexible distal tip attached to the distal end of the outer tube and extending distally thereto. The guidewire further includes a core wire having distal and proximal ends. The distal end of the core wire is made from a material exhibiting shape memory retention. The core wir e can slide longitudinally within the tube. The core wire slides between a retracted position, where the distal end of the core wire is proximal to the flexible distal tip and takes the shape of the outer tube, and an extended position, wherein the distal end of the core wire is distal to t he distal end of the outer tube so that it can return to a preformed shape.