Guide wire

A guide wire comprising:

• a flexible distal core portion that includes a foremost distal end, the distal core portion having a constant diameter along an axial direction;
• a flexible main body portion that constitutes a portion more proximal than the distal core portion and has a constant diameter along the axial direction;
• and
• a rigidity changing portion having a continuous taper that constitutes a portion from a distal end of the main body portion to a proximal end of the distal core portion and decreases in rigidity from the main body portion toward the distal core portion, the rigidity changing portion comprising at least:
• a first tapered portion that is continuous with the distal end of the main body portion and has a diameter decreasing from the main body portion toward the distal core portion;
• a second tapered portion that is continuous with a distal end of the first tapered portion and has a diameter decreasing from the first tapered portion toward the distal core portion;
• and
• one or more third tapered portions, the one or more third tapered portions being continuous with a distal end of the second tapered portion on a proximal end of the one or more third tapered portions and continuous with the proximal end of the distal core portion on a distal end of the one or more third tapered portions, and the one or more third tapered portions having a diameter decreasing from the second tapered portion toward the distal core portion;
• and
• a gradient of a change in the diameter in the first tapered portion is larger than a gradient of a change in the diameter in the second tapered portion.

A guide wire comprising:

• a flexible core wire, the flexible core wire comprising:
• a distal core portion that includes a foremost distal end of the flexible core wire, the distal core portion having a constant diameter along an axial direction;
• a main body portion that constitutes a portion more proximal than the distal core portion and has a constant diameter along the axial direction;
• and
• a rigidity changing portion having a continuous taper that constitutes a portion from a distal end of the main body portion to a proximal end of the distal core portion and decreases in rigidity from the main body portion toward the distal core portion, the rigidity changing portion having an axial length of 360 mm to 430 mm, and wherein the rigidity changing portion comprises at least:
• a first tapered portion that is continuous with the distal end of the main body portion and has a diameter decreasing from the main body portion toward the distal core portion;
• a second tapered portion that is continuous with a distal end of the first tapered portion and has a diameter decreasing from the first tapered portion toward the distal core portion;
• one or more third tapered portions, the one or more third tapered portions being continuous with a distal end of the second tapered portion on a proximal end of the one or more third tapered portions and continuous with the proximal end of the distal core portion on a distal end of the one or more third tapered portions, and the one or more third tapered portions having a diameter decreasing from the second tapered portion toward the distal core portion;
• a boundary between the first tapered portion and the second tapered portion being located 300 mm to 400 mm from the foremost distal end of the distal core portion, and wherein a gradient of a change in a flexural load value in the first tapered portion is 5.3 times to 17.8 times a gradient of a change in a flexural load value in the second tapered portion;
• and
• the first tapered portion, the second tapered portion, and the one or more third tapered portions having a tapered angle that is constant along the axial direction.