US Patent 6881194 Wire-stranded medical hollow tube, and a medical guide wire

In a wire-stranded hollow tube (1), a plurality of metallic wires (8) preformed with a predetermined forming rate are twisted along a circular line into a careless hollow configuration. When twisting the metallic wires (8), the neighboring metallic elements (1a, 1a) are subjected to compression with no gap between the neighboring metallic elements (1a, 1a). This increases a contact pressure between the neighboring metallic elements (1a, 1a) to attain a good tightness with a good circularity and diametrical uniformity secured therebetween, thus preventing the wire-stranded hollow tube (1) from inadvertently collapsing. A tightness is strengthened between the neighboring metallic elements (1a, 1a) when the metallic elements (1a, 1a) of different helical pitch are used. By applying the wire-stranded hollow tube (1) to a medical guide wire, a quick torque response and a good torque transmissibility are ensured which lead to a good manipulatability with a favorable follow-on capability.