The Use Of Guidewire's In Medical Procedures

When discussing medical devices and procedures, guide wires form a pivotal part of percutaneous surgery. 'Percutaneous' translates from Latin as 'by way of the skin'. Percutaneous surgery is minimally-invasive when compared to than traditional surgery where inner organs are exposed by cutting through multiple layers of tissue (usually with a scalpel). This is because percutaneous procedures involve the placement of medical devices utilising a needle puncture and catheters.

Such an approach is commonly used for vascular procedures involving veins and arteries and has evolved from theories developed from some elements of cardiac surgery. The major advantage of such 'needle point access' is that has less risk associated with it than large cut downs which are more painful and can result in excessive bleeding and even infection. Percutaneous access seals more easily directly after surgery and heals much more quickly.

Guide Wire and Catheter Method

Introducing a medical device into a blood vessel via a needle stick involves a procedure known as the "Seldinger Technique". First a needle is placed into an artery or vein through the skin until bleedback occurs. Then the surgeon will carefully insert a guide wire (sometimes called an "introducer wire") to establish a passageway directly into the interior cavity of the blood vessel.

Guide wires need to be flexible as well as resilient because they need to retain this path while the needle is being removed. Next a sheath or small tube is slipped over the guide wire and into the Artery or Vein. This introducer sheath is then held in place while the introducer guide wire is removed.

A medical device, such as a catheter or balloon pump, is moved into position via the introducer sheath. Whether the surgeon is implanting an item such as a stent or filter application or injecting medication into the bloodvessel the overall procedure, or "Seldinger Technique" is the same.

Guide Wires are manufactured from medical grade metals and undergo rigorous testing. Medical devices require both approved materials as well as validation documentation to approve the manufacturing, testing and usage of the product.

By: Carla Jack

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Shannon MicroCoil provides FDA/BSI approved medical grade wire as well as comprehensive coil and guide wire form services for medical deviceswww.shannonmicrocoil.com/