Importance

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Abstract

A catheter guide wire assembly for use in angioplasty. The assembly has a combined core and safety wire extending longitudinally between its proximal and distal ends. A wound wire is positioned around the combined core and safety wire and follows the contour thereof. The combined core and safety wire has a relatively short and relatively flexible distal end portion with a first diameter, an elongated, relatively rigid proximal body portion having a diameter greater than the first diameter, and a tapered intermediate portion interconnecting the distal end portion and the proximal body portion. Ends of the wire and the combined core and safety wire are rigidly connected to each other. The guide wire assembly guides and supports a balloon catheter used to dilate a stenosis region of a blood vessel. Since the distal end has a reduced diameter, the distal end can be left within the stenosis region during the performance of a fluoroscopic process used to ascertain whether or not the stenosis region has been adequately enlarged by a dilatation procedure.

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First Claim