Thermally Drawn Polymeric Catheters for MR-Guided Cardiovascular Intervention.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging
• Cardiovascular Interventions

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a major global health concern.
• Current fluoroscopy-guided interventions expose patients to ionizing radiation, particularly problematic in pediatric cases.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides radiation-free visualization but lacks compatible endovascular instruments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, adaptable thermal drawing platform for low-cost, rapid prototyping of instruments for MR-guided endovascular interventions.
• To demonstrate the platform's utility through the development of advanced catheter designs.
• To address the limitations of current manufacturing methods for MR-compatible cardiovascular devices.

Main Methods:

• Development of an adapted thermal drawing platform for rapid prototyping.
• Design and fabrication of two distinct catheter systems: a tendon-driven steerable catheter and an active tracking Tiger-shaped catheter.
• Mechanical property comparison with commercial catheters.
• In vitro and in vivo feasibility testing of the developed catheters.

Main Results:

• Successful prototyping of two novel catheter systems using the thermal drawing platform.
• Developed catheters demonstrated mechanical properties comparable to existing commercial devices.
• Promising feasibility outcomes observed in both in vitro and in vivo testing.
• The platform proved scalable and capable of facilitating diverse design exploration.

Conclusions:

• The thermal drawing platform offers a viable solution for manufacturing MR-compatible cardiovascular instruments.
• This technology can accelerate the development of advanced catheter designs for MR-guided interventions.
• It holds the potential to enhance the safety and efficacy of treating cardiovascular diseases, especially congenital heart diseases (CHD).