The mechanical properties of guidewires
Stiffness is always one of two factors that determine frictional resistance. The other factor, the coefficient of friction, depends on the surface characteristics. Teflon coating reduces the sliding friction to one-half, and a hydrophilic plastic coat to about one-sixth compared with steel.
Teflon-coated safety guides. An adjunct to the use of polyurethane catheters.
Teflon-coated safety guides have solved the problem of guidespring-catheter adherence in otherwise ideal polyurethane catheters. We strongly urge others to learn for themselves the advantages of this nocompromise approach to safety and sophistication in selective vascular catheterization.
Very stiff guide wire with a floppy tip.
Many interventional procedures, particularly dilation of tracts, require stiff guide wires with a floppy tip. Such a guide wire was specially constructed and is commercially available.