Reinforcement
3 Reinforcement
Help Me Decide
Braid vs. Coil vs. Laser-Cut Hypotube
- Braid is recommended for most interventional applications, specifically those for which pushability, tensile strength, and torquability are important.
- Coil is recommended for applications in which flexibility and trackability over a guidewire are important without expectation of significant forces or torques.
- A Laser-Cut Hypotube (LCHT) is a more customizable option which can achieve complex bends or shapes, such as those necessary for transcatheter valve repair or replacement applications. However, due to the cost and design time, it should be used sparingly unless confident a braided pattern will not work.
Specifying a Braid
- Braid Pattern:
- The standard 16-wire full load pattern ("1 wire under/over 2") is the default for most applications.
- Reference braiding equipment manufacturer Steeger's website for more details on braid patterns: https://steegerusa.com/typical-braid-patterns-for-medical-braiding/
- Braid Density:
- Higher density braid, indicated by a higher ppi (picks per inch), generally gives more flexibility and torquability.
- Lower density braid runs faster on the braider but may be more prone to kinking at a tight radius of curvature.
- Braid Wire Size:
- Recommended wire for catheters ≤ 10Fr (0.131") is 0.001" x 0.003" flat wire.
- Recommended wire for catheters > 10Fr (0.131") is 0.0015" x 0.005" flat wire.
- For applications in which catheter profile (outer diameter) does not need to be minimized, choose 0.003" round wire.
Specifying a Coil
- Coil Density:
- Higher density coil, indicated by a higher winds per inch, generally gives more flexibility.
- Coil Wire Size:
- Recommended wire for catheters ≤ 10Fr (0.131") is 0.001" x 0.003" flat wire.
- Recommended wire for catheters > 10Fr (0.131") is 0.0015" x 0.005" flat wire.
Laser-Cut Hypotube
- Laser-cut hypotubes, often abbreviated "LCHT," offer significant customizability to an application.
