Bending resistant male connector for a guide wire

Abstract

During use there is a risk that a male connector for a guide wire is bent. With the present male connector ( 1 ) more material with high modulus of elasticity can be provided inside the male connector ( 1 ), which makes the male connector ( 1 ) more bending resistant. The male connector ( 1 ) comprises a core wire ( 3 ), a plurality of conductive members ( 4 ) spaced apart longitudinally along said core wire ( 3 ), a plurality of conductors ( 5 ) disposed along the core wire ( 3 ), each of the conductors ( 5 ) being connected to a respective conductive member ( 4 ). The connector ( 1 ) has such a configuration that the conductors ( 5 ) are protected from damage at the location where the conductors ( 5 ) connect to the conductive members ( 4 ).

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A guide wire assembly, comprising:
 a male connector including
 a metal core wire, 
 a plurality of circular-shaped conductive members spaced apart longitudinally along the core wire and defining a central longitudinal axis of the male connector, 
 a plurality of conductors disposed along the core wire, the conductors being connected to respective conductive members, and 
 insulating material, 
 wherein, at least one point along the length of the male connector, a thickness of the core wire in the male connector, measured along lines that pass through the central longitudinal axis of the male connector, is 47% or more of the diameter of the circular-shaped conductive members. 
   
     
     
         22 . A guide wire assembly as set forth in  claim 21 , further comprising a circular-shaped sleeve of insulating material between the core wire and the plurality of circular-shaped conductive members. 
     
     
         23 . A guide wire assembly as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the core wire is made from titanium. 
     
     
         24 . A guide wire assembly as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the core wire is coated with titanium dioxide. 
     
     
         25 . A guide wire assembly as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the core wire is coated with oxidized aluminum. 
     
     
         26 . A guide wire assembly as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the core wire is generally cylindrically shaped. 
     
     
         27 . A guide wire assembly as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the core wire is D-shaped. 
     
     
         28 . A guide wire assembly as set forth in  claim 21  wherein, at least one point along the length of the male connector, a thickness of the core wire in the male connector, measured along lines that pass through the central longitudinal axis of the male connector, is 53% or more of the diameter of the circular-shaped conductive members. 
     
     
         29 . A guide wire assembly as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the core wire in the male connector contains at least one groove to accommodate at least one conductor. 
     
     
         30 . A guide wire assembly as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the core wire inside the male connector has a flat surface. 
     
     
         31 . A guide wire assembly as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the guide wire assembly comprises a second core wire distal of said core wire, the second core wire and said core wire being separated by a longitudinal gap. 
     
     
         32 . A guide wire assembly as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein at least one point along the length of the male connector, at least one thickness of the core wire, measured along a line that passes through the central longitudinal axis of the male connector, is less than 100% of another thickness measured along a line that passes through the central longitudinal axis of the male connector. 
     
     
         33 . A guide wire assembly as set forth in  claim 21  wherein, at least one point along the length of the male connector, a thickness of the core wire in the male connector, measured along lines that pass through the central longitudinal axis of the male connector, is 58% or more of the diameter of the circular-shaped conductive members.