A new guide wire that provides markedly improved torque control is described. It was compared with a conventional guide wire in two models, one simulating a drainage tube with numerous side holes and one, the biliary tree. The new wire was much more easily controlled than the conventional guide wire and passed through both models significantly faster (P less than .01 and P less than .005). Although some deterioration in control was noted when it was inserted through a catheter in vivo, the new torque-control wire still exhibited a definite improvement over conventional wires in directional control.