Guide wire

A guide wire comprising:

• a first wire disposed on the distal side of said guide wire;
• a second wire disposed on the proximal side from said first wire;
• the first wire is made of a pseudo-elastic alloy and the second wire is made of a different material than the first wire;
• the second wire possessing an elasticity modulus greater than the elasticity modulus of the first wire;
• wherein said first wire and said second wire are joined to each other by welding;
• a welded portion formed by the welding has a projection projecting in the outer peripheral direction;
• the projection extending on both axial sides of the welded portion;
• the proximal side and the distal side of said projection are formed into shapes asymmetric to each other with respect to the welded surface of said welded portion;
• the first wire and said second wire are not helical coils;
• a welded surface of the welded portion at which the first and second wires are welded to each other being located at a maximum outer-diameter portion of the projection to disconcentrate stress to a smaller outer-diameter portion close to the projection;
• a spiral coil covering at least a distal end portion of said first wire;
• and
• material forming at least one of the proximal end of the first wire and the distal end of the second wire constitutes at least a part of the projection.

A guide wire comprising:

• a first wire disposed on the distal side of said guide wire;
• a second wire disposed on the proximal side from said first wire;
• wherein said first wire and said second wire are joined to each other by welding;
• a welded portion formed by the welding has a projection projecting in the outer peripheral direction;
• the projection extending on both axial sides of the welded portion;
• the projection possessing an outer peripheral surface;
• the proximal side and the distal side of said projection are formed into shapes asymmetric to each other with respect to the welded surface of said welded portion;
• a cover layer in direct contact with the outer peripheral surface of the projection to cover the projection;
• the cover layer being a friction-reducing polymer material;
• said first wire and said second wire are not helical coils;
• a spiral coil covering at least a distal end portion of said first wire;
• and
• material forming at least one of the proximal end of the first wire and the distal end of the second wire constitutes at least a part of the projection.

A guide wire comprising:

• a first wire disposed on the distal side of said guide wire;
• a second wire disposed on the proximal side from said first wire;
• wherein said first wire and said second wire are joined to each other by welding;
• a welded portion formed by the welding has a projection projecting in the outer peripheral direction;
• the projection extending on both axial sides of the welded portion;
• the projection possessing an outer peripheral surface;
• the proximal side and the distal side of said projection are formed into shapes asymmetric to each other with respect to the welded surface of said welded portion;
• said first wire and said second wire are not helical coils;
• a spiral coil covering at least a distal end portion of said first wire;
• the spiral coil does not cover the projection,
• the projection is not covered by a spiral-shaped wire;
• and
• material forming at least one of the proximal end of the first wire and the distal end of the second wire constitutes at least a part of the projection.

A guide wire comprising:

• a first wire disposed on the distal side of said guide wire;
• a second wire disposed on the proximal side from said first wire;
• wherein said first wire and said second wire are joined to each other by welding at a weld joint so as to define a first enlarged proximal-most end portion of the first wire and a first enlarged distal-most end portion of the second wire;
• a projection formed by said welding and projecting in an outer peripheral direction on both axial sides of the weld joint, said projection defining a final enlarged proximal-most end portion of the first wire and a final enlarged distal-most end portion of the second wire forming a smooth joining surface therebetween;
• wherein the final enlarged proximal-most end portion of the first wire portion does not extend farther radially outwardly than said first enlarged proximal-most end portion of the first wire and the final enlarged distal-most end portion of the second wire does not extend farther radially outwardly than said first enlarged distal-most end portion of the second wire;
• said first wire and said second wire are not helical coils;
• a spiral coil covering at least a distal end portion of said first wire;
• and
• material forming at least one of the proximal end of the first wire and the distal end of the second wire constitutes at least a part of the projection.