Methods for manufacturing a guide wire utilizing a cold worked nickel-titanium-niobium ternary alloy

A method for fabricating a guide wire device that includes a linear pseudo-elastic alloy, the method comprising:

• providing an elongated shaft member that includes a proximal end section and a distal end section, wherein the elongated shaft member includes a Ni—Ti—Nb alloy member,
• wherein Nb is present in the Ni—Ti—Nb alloy in a range from about 3 at % to about 30 at % and Ni is present in an amount from about 2 at % to about 4 at % higher than an at % of Ti;
• cold working at least a portion of the Ni—Ti—Nb alloy member to yield a martensitic phase with linear pseudo-elastic behavior and without a phase transformation or onset of stress-induced martensite;
• disposing a helical coil section about at least the distal section of the elongated shaft member;
• coupling the helical coil section to the elongated shaft member;
• forming an atraumatic cap section on a distal end of the helical coil section;
• and
• applying at least one lubricious material to the guide wire device.