Guidewire Types and Functions

• Guidewires come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with different purposes and capabilities.
• Non-steerable guidewires provide a supportive rail that allows the catheter to be advanced into position, but are not designed to negotiate stenoses or select branch vessels.
• Steerable guidewires have shaped tips, and are constructed with good torque control so that when the shaft is rotated the tip turns a corresponding amount. This allows responsive 'steering'.
• Hydrophilic guidewires are mostly steerable wires, which have a slippery 'hydrophilic' coating. This allows the wire to cross even the tightest stenosis if used properly.
• Stiff guidewires are heavy-duty wires with particularly supportive shafts. A stiff wire may be required to support catheters/devices as they pass through occlusions/scar/fibrotic tissue or around challenging anatomy.
• In some wires, the transition point is visible on fluoroscopy as the flexible tip is usually more radio-opaque.
• Hybrid guidewires are a more recent development combining a steerable floppy tip with a supportive shaft. They are often pretty close to the original separate wires, and save both money and wire exchanges.

Explore the different types and functions of guidewires, including non-steerable, steerable, hydrophilic, stiff, visible transition point, and hybrid guidewires. Learn about their capabilities and purposes in medical procedures.