MaRVis Technologies out of Aachen, Germany has developed metal-free guidewires made of fiber-epoxy rods that are suitable for performing interventional cath lab procedures under MR imaging. Testing has confirmed their physical strength that is comparable to traditional guidewires. Additionally, the company is reporting the development of a gadolinium ion infused coating that makes devices visible under MR.
Such rods basically are composed of glass fibers embedded in epoxy resin. The new composition of the rods results in a very high stability even after complete breakage of the glass fibers. Disruption of broken rods and of corresponding guidewires by manual force, formerly a residual risk under extreme conditions for all standard fiber-based MR safe guidewires under development, thereby is prevented. For the first time all mechanical properties of flexibility, axial stiffness, torsion capability, stability, and tear-resistance have been integrated into a metal-free guidewire of only 0.8 mm (0.032 inch) diameter.
Another new technology, developed together with an undisclosed partner, provides a gadolinium-based visualization of medical devices in MRI which is of high interest due to its ‘positive’, clearly distinguishable white contrast compared to the grey-shaded image of the body tissue. A novel coating is stably attached to a modified envelope polymer during production of a medical device. This coating directly encompasses e.g. gadolinium ions. In a feasibility study MRI visualization using standard gadolinium detection settings (“MR sequences”) has been successfully demonstrated.
Click on the video below to see MaRVis guidewire prototypes in arterial flow phantom with a basic real-time sequence:
Press release: Groundbreaking improvements for MR…
MaRVis guidewire technology info page…
