This article compares two approaches side by side to clarify how they differ in principle and practice. Access is commonly established with an introducer sheath, which creates a stable, valved entry point through the vessel wall for exchanging devices. As a medical device manufacturer, INVAMED develops technologies in this area; the information here is educational and not medical advice.
Background: Endovascular, Neurovascular and Urological Access and Delivery
A guidewire is a thin, steerable wire that a clinician advances first to establish a path, over which catheters and other devices are then delivered. Access is commonly established with an introducer sheath, which creates a stable, valved entry point through the vessel wall for exchanging devices. Catheters and guidewires are the working tools of minimally invasive procedures, used to gain vascular access and navigate to a target inside the body.
Nitinol core vs Stainless steel core: Key Differences
A nitinol guidewire core is valued for flexibility and kink resistance, while a stainless steel core can provide different support and torque behavior. The core influences how the wire tracks and how much backup it lends to advancing catheters. InWIRE Peripheral Guidewires are offered with either nitinol or stainless steel cores so the clinician can match the case. The appropriate core is selected by the operator based on the navigation and support requirements.
How INVAMED Supports Both Approaches
INVAMED organizes its catheter and guidewire portfolio by function — access, crossing, support, delivery, and retrieval — across sizes, tip shapes, and coatings. Guidewire and support options include InWIRE Peripheral Guidewires (0.035 and 0.038 inch, nitinol or stainless steel cores, hydrophilic coating), InWIRE 0.014" & 0.018" CTO / Recanalization Guidewires, the InWIRE NEURO Neurovascular Guide Wire, the Lotus single and double-lumen (RX) PTCA microcatheter, the Keeper Endovascular Snare, the Zebra and ZEBRA-pattern urology and support catheters, and the GuideX Guide Extension Catheter studied in GUIDEX_FR (NCT06009757). Access and delivery items include the Invaducer Introducer Sheath Set, the JaGuar Guiding Sheath, the Jaguar Braided Long Sheath with an approximately 5 cm hydrophilically coated distal tip, and AngioCATH Guiding Catheters in multiple tip shapes.
Key Considerations
- Sheath inner and outer diameters carry different implications for device compatibility and access, and should be confirmed in product documentation.
- Tip shape, coating, core material, and support characteristics are selected to fit the specific navigation, crossing, or delivery task.
- Device sizing across French, inch, and centimeter units must be matched to the vessel, the access site, and the devices being delivered, as determined by the clinician.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GuideX guide extension catheter?
GuideX is INVAMED's mother-and-child guide extension catheter, which is the subject of a randomized clinical trial versus the Launcher guiding catheter in PCI (GUIDEX_FR, NCT06009757).
Who selects the appropriate catheter or guidewire?
A trained clinician selects devices based on the anatomy and procedural task; this content is educational and not a treatment recommendation.
Does the Invaducer sheath set include accessories?
Yes. The Invaducer Introducer Sheath Set includes a dilator, guidewire, syringe, and sheath, with a hemostasis valve and side port at the proximal end.
About INVAMED
Device availability and regulatory status vary by country. Please contact INVAMED or your authorized local distributor for current regulatory information applicable to your region.
Clinical and Technical Context
Whether a guide extension is used is determined by the operator based on the procedural needs. Core selection is made by the clinician based on the navigation and support needs of the case. Catheters and guidewires are the working tools of minimally invasive procedures, used to gain vascular access and navigate to a target inside the body. The Zebra Guidewire for Urological Procedures features a high-visibility striped coating and a flexible atraumatic tip, complementing INVAMED's broader urology guidewire range.
Related on INVAMED
- Comprehensive Catheter & Guidewire Systems — product category
- Guiding Catheters and Tip Shapes: Technology, Uses and Considerations
- What is the difference between inner and outer diameter of a sheath?
- What is a CTO or recanalization guidewire?
Important Disclaimer
This content is educational and technical in nature and must not be interpreted as medical advice or as a promise of any clinical outcome. Individual results depend on many factors and can only be evaluated by a treating physician. Figures attributed to INVAMED reflect manufacturer or published data and are not a guarantee of results. All INVAMED devices are to be used by trained clinicians per the approved IFU, and availability is subject to local regulatory status.
Reviewed by the INVAMED Medical Affairs team. Content is educational and technical in nature.