Technical feasibility and performance studies of a 0.009-inch nitinol microguidewire for potential neuroendovascular applications.
OBJECTIVE
The authors conduct technical feasibility and performance studies on a new 0.009-inch nitinol microguidewire for potential neuroendovascular applications.


METHODS
In vivo microcatheterizations of brachiocephalic arteries were performed in four pigs using the 0.009-inch nitinol microguidewire with a commonly used microcatheter and compared with the performance of commercially available microguidewires. Vessels catheterized using the 0.009-inch wire were evaluated by histopathological analysis. A standardized, bench-top method of evaluating basic mechanical properties of microguidewires also was used to compare the 0.009-inch nitinol microguidewire with two commonly used microguidewires.


RESULTS
The 0.009-inch microguidewire had similar steerability, tractability, torque control, and distal tip flexibility to the commonly used microguidewires in the in vivo simulations. Bench top testing showed the 0.009-inch microguidewire to have comparable distal tip flexibility and objective mechanical properties to the commonly used microguidewires.


CONCLUSIONS
The comparable subjective and objective mechanical properties of the 0.009-inch nitinol microguidewire to that of commonly used microguidewires further establishes the possibility of clinical implementation.
Putman
C M
CM
Section of Interventional Neuroradiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8042, USA.
Chaloupka
J C
JC
Kailasnath
P
P
Alderman
J
J
D000497:Alloys; D000818:Animals; D016122:Brachiocephalic Trunk / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D011859:Radiography; D015642:Radiology, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013552:Swine
D000497:Alloys; C013616:nitinol