Guide wire with hydrophilically coated tip

Abstract

A guide wire including a lubricous distal portion and a less lubricous intermediate portion proximal of said distal portion. One guide wire provides a highly lubricous distal portion with a hydrophilic layer and a less lubricous intermediate portion with a hydrophobic layer. Another guide wire provides a lubricous distal portion with a polymer tip that is itself hydrophilic. Yet another guide wire provides a less lubricous intermediate portion using a stainless steel coil helically wound around the tapering intermediate portion. The coil is preferably coated with a hydrophobic coating such as PTFE or silicone. The coil can either abut the distal portion proximal end or extend into the distal portion interior.

1 . A guide wire having a distal end and a proximal end comprising: 
 an elongate core;    a lubricous distal portion;    an intermediate portion, proximal of said distal portion, said intermediate portion being less lubricous than said distal portion; and    a proximal portion proximal of said intermediate portion.