abstract |
Guide wire having a progressively attenuated diameter comprising an elongated core element having proximal and distal ends and having a decreasing cross sectional area in a direction towards the distal end. A coil is carried by and secured to said core element an has proximal and distal ends. The coil has a diameter which decreases in a direction towards the distal end. The coil is formed of a wire which has a diameter which decreases from one end to the other end and which is wound in a helix so that the larger diameter wire begins in a region closer to the proximal end and the smaller diameter wire ends in a region closer to the distal end. |