Evaluation of a new distal delivery guidewire for steel coils

A new distal delivery guidewire (DDG) for steel coils is described. By means of a DDG 'mini' coils as well as 'new' coils can be delivered intravascularly through catheters with an inside diameter large enough to let pass a 0.97 mm. guidewire. Delivery using a DDG is compared with delivery using a pusher guidewire (conventional method); the former seems to be safer. Additionally, coil placement beyond the location of the catheter tip is only possible when using a DDG. Forty-nine venous and four arterial coil placements resulted in only one misplacement which could be corrected angiographically. (orig.)