Physicians use stents guided by various wires to prevent heart attacks.
Lack of blood flow through coronary vessels often leads to a heart attack, and one of the least invasive and least costly methods to repair this stenosis is by inserting a stent into the vessel to expand it. Stents require a wire to guide them into the proper location. Physicians have a number of options available as to which guide wire they can choose, each possessing unique characteristics that make that wire best for its specific situation.
Type of Core
Guide wires have either a fixed or a movable core. Depending on the procedure, a physician will choose wires that have either option.
Diameter
Intervention wires can be as thin as 0.014 inches, or as thick as 0.065 inches. The various thicknesses are used on vessels of different diameters.
Length
Guide wires come in various lengths, some as short as 45 cm, and some as long as 400 cm. Which length is needed always depends on the procedure being performed. The standard length is 145 cm for the average wire.
Stiffness
Within the core of the guide wire is a specialized column called the mandril core. The mandril core is the primary means of support inside the intervention wire. The overall stiffness can vary between soft and a "coat hanger" like stiffness.
Coating
Certain varieties of guide wires come with a hydrophilic, or water-loving, coating. When wet, this coating makes the wire have a very low coefficient of friction, allowing for easy maneuvering around blood vessels.
Tags: guide wire, Guide wires, have either, mandril core, wires come
