A shape sensing enabled instrument includes a flexible guide wire or support rod including an outer surface which encapsulates interior features. The interior features include an optical fiber lumen (105) configured to receive one or more optical fibers for optical shape sensing, and a guide wire support rod or the support rod forming a hollow extending longitudinally along the instrument. The guide wire support rod or the support rod is configured to receive the optical fiber lumen therein to permit rotation and translation of an optical fiber and to protect the optical fiber.
