Guidewires, Catheters, and Sheaths Used for Thoracic Endografting Procedures

Abstract

The importance of proper training and experience with the endovascular equipment used in TEVAR cannot be understated. We believe the endovascular tools discussed in this article offer a proper selection for safe and effective performance of these procedures.

Electromagnetic navigation platform for endovascular surgery: how to develop sensorized catheters and guidewires

“…The stiff inner wire is tapered distally and does not extend to the guidewire tip, allowing a more flexible (and ideally, non‐traumatic to vessel walls) distal coil tip. Currently, guidewires are often composed of stainless steel or nitinol, a nickel–titanium alloy and they typically have some form of antifriction coating, for example tetrafluoroethylene layers (TFE).…”

“…In this work, guidewire prototypes are developed inserting a 5DOF sensor inside a tailored nitinol helical hollow strand (suitable for endovascular application) from Fort Wayne Metals 0.035″ in diameter and 180 cm long (like the diameter and the length of standard guidewires for peripheral interventions ). The sensor is fixed close to the tip of the nitinol tube.…”

Intravascular Ultrasound in Aortic Disease

“…In cases in which the investigator wants to limit the amount of contrast and where the quality of the fluoroscopic imaging is limited, IVUS can be helpful to determine details of the pathology, e.g., a dissection membrane (Fig. 4) (Khoynezhad and Kruse 2009;Pisimisis et al 2010). Once the guidewire is progressed past the lesion of concern, an IVUS catheter can thoroughly examine the vessel morphology without the use of contrast or fluoroscopy (Kopchock et al 2011).…”

Required skills and interdisciplinary teams in starting a TEVAR practice

“…Khoynezhad et al have recently provided a review and description of multiple devices and their construction. 18 Industry support is necessary when building an inventory of TEVAR endografts. These devices are very costly, and an agreement to consign them may be beneficial for the institution.…”