A standard wire-threaded catheter can only bend in a few directions. These movements, initiated far from the tip of the wire, can be clumsy and imprecise. Turns greater than 90º are especially difficult to steer because the wire tends to prolapse. In contrast, the guidewires used in the magnetic navigation system are equipped with tiny magnets at the tip, which respond to an external magnetic field of a specific direction and magnitude.
This allows the physician to rotate the guide wire or catheter a full 360º. In addition, magnetic assisted intervention helps minimize operator movements at the tip of the guide wire, significantly reducing the risk of trauma to blood vessels.
This software-enhanced navigation can also help the physician reorient the guide wire or catheter tip using preset parameters. For example, one panel might display vector calculations formulated from average anatomical dimensions for each coronary artery. The computer can create an individualized three-dimensional track for navigation through the target vessel.
