Guidewire coatings
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
The distal half of coronary guidewires are coated with slippery (lubricious) materials to reduce the friction of the guidewire as it crosses the blockage in the coronary artery and to also facilitate the passage and delivery of intracoronary devices down the artery.
Types of LUBRICIOUS COATING
- Hydrophilic
- Hydrophobic
- Hydrophobic tip and hydrophilic distal end
- Affects lubricity, friction and wire tracking in crossing lesions as well as during stent and balloon delivery.
- Facilitate smooth movement
- Confined to the distal 30-35 cm
Commonly used coatings
1.PTFE (Polytetrafluroehylene) - commonest
2.Teflon
3.Silicone
4.Pro/Pel®, (Medtronic)
5.Hydro-track® (Medtronic)
6.Hydro-coat (Abbott vascular)
HYDROPHILIC COATING
- attracts water
- It is applied over polymer or stainless steel (including tip coils)
- Thin, non-slippery solid when dry, needs lubrication to perform
- Becomes gel when wet
- Reduces friction
- Increases trackability
HYDROPHOBIC COATING
- repels water
- Silicone on working area of wire, excluding tip
- No actuation/wetting required
- Reduces friction
- Increases trackability
Platinum in the tip for radio-opacity. (usually 3-25 cm length at the tip)