High support nitinol tube guidewire with plastic plug transition

摘要

A catheter guidewire having an elongate core wire, an elongate tube defining a tube lumen, the proximal end of the tube being affixed to the distal end of the core wire. The tube has a smooth exterior surface and one or more plug segments filling the tube lumen, each plug segment having a stiffness less than that of the core wire and less than that of the proximally preceding plug segment. The proximal end of the proximal most plug segment is affixed to the distal end of the core wire, the distal end of the tube is affixed to the distal most plug segment. A smoothly rounded distal tip extends beyond and is affixed to the distal end of the tube. The tube may be formed of a super-elastic metallic member or formed from a synthetic resin. The tube wall thickness is preferably between 0.002 inches and 0.005 inches.