Guidewire core

Revision as of 21:18, 28 January 2013 by Charmaine Patel (talk | contribs)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

WikiDoc Resources for Guidewire core

Articles

Most recent articles on Guidewire core

Most cited articles on Guidewire core

Review articles on Guidewire core

Articles on Guidewire core in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Guidewire core

Images of Guidewire core

Photos of Guidewire core

Podcasts & MP3s on Guidewire core

Videos on Guidewire core

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Guidewire core

Bandolier on Guidewire core

TRIP on Guidewire core

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Guidewire core at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Guidewire core

Clinical Trials on Guidewire core at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Guidewire core

NICE Guidance on Guidewire core

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Guidewire core

CDC on Guidewire core

Books

Books on Guidewire core

News

Guidewire core in the news

Be alerted to news on Guidewire core

News trends on Guidewire core

Commentary

Blogs on Guidewire core

Definitions

Definitions of Guidewire core

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Guidewire core

Discussion groups on Guidewire core

Patient Handouts on Guidewire core

Directions to Hospitals Treating Guidewire core

Risk calculators and risk factors for Guidewire core

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Guidewire core

Causes & Risk Factors for Guidewire core

Diagnostic studies for Guidewire core

Treatment of Guidewire core

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Guidewire core

International

Guidewire core en Espanol

Guidewire core en Francais

Business

Guidewire core in the Marketplace

Patents on Guidewire core

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Guidewire core

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

To go back to the main page on Guidewires, click here.

Overview

The core of a coronary guidewire determines many of the performance characteristics of the device. The core of a coronary guidewire is usually ground to a taper towards the end and this is where the tip attaches to the core. If guidewire core starts tapering more towards the tip, the coronary guidewire as a whole becomes more rigid, steerable and torquable. The opposite happens when the core other coronary guidewire tapers more proximally allowing for a longer tip and a more flexible tip. The core may be either continuous or joined. If the core is joined then it is more likely to bend or prolapse when the guidewire is advanced. Coronary guidewire cores that are made of stainless steel are stiffer, provide greater support, and provide greater torque control. In contrast, coronary guidewire cores that are made of nitinol are much more flexible.

Guidewire Core Composition

The guidewire core can be composed of either nitinol, stainless steel or a similar metal.

Nitinol Guidewire Cores

Shown below is the structure of a guidewire with a nitinol core: nitinol.jpg

Advantages Of A Nitinol Core

  • Super-elastic alloy designed for kink resistance
  • Excellent flexibility and steering
  • Probably more durable in nature
  • Better trackability
  • Reduced prolapse

Disadvantages Of A Nitinol Core

  • A nitinol guidewire may be less torquable
  • A nitinol guidewire core may store torque without necessarily transmitting the torque to the tip
  • Wires with single nitinol cores sometimes "wind up" and store the torque

Clinical Scenarios In Which A Nitinol Core May Be Useful

  • As a result of their flexibility and durability, coronary guidewires with a nitinol core are more likely to enter a retroflexed circumflex coronary artery.

Stainless Steel Guidewire Cores

Stainless steel was the original core material used in coronary guidewires. Shown below is the structure of a stainless steel guidewire core (Courtesy of Abbott Vascular)

stainless_steel.jpg

Advantages Of A Stainless Steel Core

  • The stainless steel core provides greater pushability, support, torquability, and good shapeability in “core-to-tip” wires.

Disadvantages Of A Stainless Steel Core

  • Tendency to kink
  • Less flexible than newer core materials

High Tensile Strength Stainless Steel

Shown below is the structure of a high tensile strength stainless steel guidewire core:

Advantages of the High Tensile Strength Stainless Steel Core

  • More durable than regular stainless steel
  • Retains shape more
  • Improved flexibility
  • Improved steering and tracking

Asahi Tru Torque Steel

Shown below is the structure of a Asahi Tru Torque Steel guidewire core: