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Heparin-releasing intravascular guidewires
Hans J L Hanssen1, Leo H Koole
1MCTec BV, Venlo, The Netherlands. hans@mctecbv.com
Medical Device Technology
|October 26, 2002
Abstract:
The distal part of a percutaneous translumenal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) guidewire should not only be flexible, nonkinking, radiopaque and lubricious, but also nonthrombogenic. Possible formation of thrombotic emboli at a guidewire's surface enhances the risk for occlusion at the coronary lesion downstream. This article reports on the development of a new PTCA guidewire that releases heparin from the lubricious hydrophilic coating on its distal part.