A guide wire assembly for medical use includes at least a portion 90 which is formed of a plurality of inter-cooperating elements 100 in series which may slide relative to one another to allow the guide to be bendable in at least one dimension, the elements having a tapering internal lumens for accommodating a control device, which may be a wire. The control device may operate to make the guide more or less flexible, or stiff but increasing or decreasing the frictional forces between the elements. The elements may have a curved first end 102 and second end 104. The second end of one element may envelop the first end of a subsequent element. The first end may be compressible, and comprise a slot to allow radial compression. The taper may be uniform or non-uniform, and the taper allows for a narrower lumen whilst maintaining flexibility of the guide.
