Multi-filar, cross-wound coil for medical devices

Claim 1

A flexible catheter-like guidewire device comprising a multi-filar, cross-wound coil body terminating in a distal ball tip element, said body comprising a first inner coil of multiple coil wires wound in a first helical direction and a second outer coil of multiple coil wires disposed closely thereabout and wound in a second opposite helical direction, said body defining an elongated lumen opening proximally, said distal ball tip element attached to said body solely via said inner and outer coil wires, a proximal handle portion, a core extending from said handle portion and removably received through the proximal opening into the elongated lumen of said body, said core, by movement of said handle relative to said body, adapted for axial movement within said body, relative to said distal ball tip element, for adjustment of the axial position of said core relative to said body thereby to vary the flexibility of the distal region of the device, proximal means connected to said coil body for connection of said lumen, with said core removed, to a source of fluid, and sheath means secured about said body for sealing said lumen for transport of fluid introduced through the proximal opening, through said lumen, to be delivered radially from said lumen in the distal tip region of the device.