Performance enhancing coating on intraluminal devices

Abstract

This invention comprises guidewires, stents and other intraluminal devices having a performance enhancing coating deposited using physical vapor deposition (PVD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Preferably, a radiopaque coating comprising platinum, tungsten, iridium, tantalum or the like is deposited on a desired portion of the device. Alternatively, the performance enhancing coating is a wear resistant coating of carbides such as tungsten carbide, titanium carbide, or nitrides such as titanium nitride.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . A guidewire for use in a patient, comprising: 
 an elongated core member having a proximal core section and a distal core section;    the distal core section having a first taper, a second taper, and a third taper each of which taper in a distal direction to successively smaller transverse cross-sectional dimensions thereby providing a highly flexible distal core section;    a distal coil and a proximal coil disposed about and attached to the distal core section;    the distal coil having an inner portion and an exterior portion, the exterior portion being more radiopaque than the interior portion; and    the interior portion being formed from a relatively high strength metal alloy and the exterior portion being formed from a relatively lower strength metal or metal alloy.    
   
   
       21 . The guidewire of  claim 20 , wherein the inner portion has a solid core in the form of a wire or a rod and the exterior portion is in the form of a tubular member so that the tubular member can be co-drawn with the solid core to form the distal coil.  
   
   
       22 . The guidewire of  claim 20 , wherein the inner portion is formed from a relatively high strength metal alloy taken from the group of metal alloys consisting of stainless steel, nickel-titanium, cobalt-chromium-molybdenum, and tantalum.  
   
   
       23 . The guidewire of  claim 20 , wherein the exterior portion is formed from a metal or metal alloy consisting of platinum, gold, iridium, palladium, tantalum, tungsten, silver, and alloys thereof.  
   
   
       24 . The guidewire of  claim 20 , wherein a first intermediate uniform dimensioned core portion extends between the first taper and the second taper and a second intermediate uniform dimensioned core portion extends between the second taper and the third taper.