Manoeuverable guide wire and method of using same

A guide wire comprising:

• an elongate tubular member with a distal end and a proximal end, and at least one core member disposed axially movable within the tubular member, which core member is provided with at least one pre-shaped, curved portion, wherein the pre-shaped curved portion is flexible, and the tubular member has segments of different transversal stiffnesses, of which at least one first segment has a rigidity causing a straightening of said curved portion when the latter is positioned within said first segment, and of which at least one second segment is flexible so as to be bent when said curved portion of the core member is positioned within said second segment,
• wherein the second segment is a distal segment of the tubular member, the distal segment having a distal portion in which the tubular member is fully compliant to the curvature of the pre-shaped curved portion on the core member, the distal portion having a length of more than 15 cm, the distal segment including a proximal portion having a length of at least 6 cm in which the transversal stiffness is higher than in the distal portion and lower than in the first segment,
• wherein the tubular member has at least two of the first segments and at least two of the second segments, one of the first segments being interposed between the second segments.