Image guided surgery system guide wire and methods of manufacturing and use

1. A guide wire system comprising:

a guide wire having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the guide wire comprises a superelastic material that is configured to (i) transition from a first configuration to a second configuration responsive to a force applied to the guide wire and (ii) return from the second configuration to the first configuration responsive to the force being removed from the guide wire;

a first connector positioned at and coupled to the proximal end of the guide wire;

a second connector coupled to the guide wire between the distal end and the proximal end;

an electromagnetic sensor coupled to the distal end of the guide wire; and

a polymeric tube surrounding at least a portion of the guide wire and at least a portion of the electromagnetic sensor.

2. The guide wire system of claim 1 , wherein the superelastic material comprises nitinol.

3. The guide wire system of claim 1 , wherein the first connector comprises a pin connector.

4. The guide wire system of claim 3 , wherein the first connector comprises a 10-pin connector.

5. The guide wire system of claim 1 , wherein the second connector comprises a bayonet connector configured to interact with a complementary bayonet connector of a balloon dilation catheter to thereby couple the guide wire system to the balloon dilation catheter.

6. The guide wire system of claim 1 , wherein the guide wire includes a lubricious coating.

7. The guide wire system of claim 1 , wherein a stiffness of the guide wire is constant along an entire length of the guide wire from the proximal end to the distal end.

8. The guide wire system of claim 1 , wherein a stiffness of a distal portion of the guide wire is less than a stiffness of a proximal portion of the guide wire.

9. The guide wire system of claim 8 , wherein a length of the distal portion of the guide wire is less than a length of the proximal portion of the guide wire.

10. The guide wire system of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the guide wire is constant along an entire length of the guide wire from the proximal end to the distal end.

11. The guide wire system of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of a distal portion of the guide wire is less than a diameter of a proximal portion of the guide wire.

12. The guide wire system of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the guide wire is about 0.4 mm to about 1 mm.

13. The guide wire system of claim 1 , wherein the first connector includes a flexible circuit, wherein the flexible circuit includes a memory chip configured to transmit an identification of the guide wire system to an image guided surgery system when the first connector is coupled to the image guided surgery system.

14. The guide wire system of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric tube surrounds at least a portion of the first connector, and wherein the first connector is secured to the proximal end of the guide wire via a heat bond between the polymeric tube and the guide wire.

15. The guide wire system of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic sensor is potted by an epoxy.

16. The guide wire system of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic sensor is secured to the distal end of the guide wire via a radio frequency tipping die.

17. The guide wire system of claim 1 , wherein the second connector is coupled to a handpiece of balloon dilation catheter, and wherein a geometry of the second connector to the handpiece allows a user to set a desired distance between the distal end of the guide wire and a distal end of the balloon dilation catheter.

18. The guide wire system of claim 1 , further comprising a camera positioned at the distal end of the guide wire.

19. The guide wire system of claim 1 , the guide wire has a straight shape in the first configuration and a bent shape in the second configuration.

20. The guide wire system of claim 1 , wherein the guide wire system is reusable.