Guidewire with adjustable stiffness

摘要

A method of adjusting the stiffness and size of a guidewire without full withdrawal of the guidewire from a patient's vascular system comprising providing a guidewire system comprising an inner member having a first outer diameter and a first stiffness, an outer member having a third larger diameter and a third stiffness, and a stiffener positioned between the inner and outer members and having a second outer diameter larger than the first diameter and smaller than the third diameter. The method includes selectively changing the relative positions of the members to alter the pushability and stiffness of the guidewire system.