Medical devices that include on at least some portion thereof an aromatic polyimide of the structure: ##STR00001## wherein R is a tetravalent aromatic radical, preferably containing at least one ring of six carbon atoms, said ring characterized by benzenoid unsaturation, the four carbonyl groups being attached directly to separate carbon atoms in a ring and each pair of carbonyl groups being attached to adjacent carbon atoms in a ring of the R radical; and wherein R' is a divalent benzenoid radical selected from the group consisting of ##STR00002## wherein R'' is selected from the group consisting of an alkylene chain having 1-3 carbon atoms, ##STR00003## R''' and R'''' are selected from the group consisting of alkyl and aryl.In one embodiment the medical device is a coated lead body.Coated guide wires are a further embodiment.Methods of application are a further embodiment.