Deformable Guidewire Facilitates Accurate Heart Valve Placement

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 28 Jan 2014

Image: The acWire guidewire in place after deployment (Photo courtesy of MediValve).

A novel malleable guidewire helps position prosthetic valves during transcatheter heart-valve implantation (TAVI) with greater precision.

The acWire guidewire is a single-use, fully disposable medical device that utilizes shape-memory alloy technology to enable the identification of cardiovascular structures with existing imaging methods. The system is designed to provide the cardiologist with a continuous, clear, and precise landmark indicating where to implant the prosthetic valve during TAVI, shortening procedure time, reducing usage of radiation and contrast media, and improving clinical outcomes. The system can also be used in peripheral vascular catheterization procedures.

Once directed to the selected cardiovascular location, the active components are moved past the diseased valve and the guidewire is deformed under fluoroscopy to identify the desired valve cusps using radiopaque markers. The deformed guidewire opens up (like a flower) and is drawn back to the valve, aligning itself snugly just past the valve opening. The three radiopaque markers on the “petals” help the physician visualize how the device is positioned before placing the valve. The acWire guidewire is a product of MediValve (Kibbutz HaMa’apil, Israel), it is compatible with all valve models, and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“I am impressed with the acWire technology and the promise it holds for positioning diagnostic and interventional devices during heart catheterization procedures. I look forward to evaluating the acWire in our clinic,” said Professor Carlos Ruiz, MD, PhD, chief of structural and congenital heart disease at North Shore LIJ- Hofstra University Hospital (Manhasset, NY, USA).

Aortic valve stenosis (AVS) compromises valve function and cardiac output, thereby reducing the amount of oxygen-rich blood received by key organs. Present in more than 25% of patients over age 65, it is most frequently caused by calcification of the aortic valve, and is associated with a 50% increased risk of cardiovascular events. Aortic valve replacement surgery is the recommended treatment for severe AVS. Yet, approximately 30% of the potential population is denied surgery due to the risks for elderly, weakened patients.

Related Links:
MediValve
North Shore LIJ- Hofstra University Hospital