New heavy-duty exchange guide wire.

A major drawback of currently used exchange guide wires is insufficient stiffness, causing them to buckle or dislodge when used during catheter exchanges. A new heavy-duty exchange guide wire is described that facilitates catheter exchanges around sharp corners, such as those encountered during various cardiac interventional procedures. The wire was successfully used in experimental valvuloplasty and experimental dilation of the ductus arteriosus.