| abstract |
The present invention generally relates to a medical surgical device and specifically a wire guide for percutaneous placement within a body lumen. The wire guide includes an elongated mandrel having sufficient flexibility and kink resistance and a cannula having a stiffness greater than the mandrel stiffness for sufficient pushability. The mandrel extends through the cannula and has a portion extending distal thereto to form a distal tip of the wire guide. The wire guide can further include a slotted cannula to improve the flexibility of the wire guide at the proximal portion of the wire guide. The slots can be arranged in various patterns for increased flexibility along the longitudinal length of the cannula, as well as increased circumferential flexibility along the wire guide. The mandrel may also have a proximally tapered portion to improve the flexibility of the wire guide at the proximal portion of the wire guide. |