Guidewire and catheter behavioural simulation.

Guidewire and catheter manipulation is a core skill in endovascular interventional radiology. It is usually acquired in an apprenticeship on patients, but this training is expensive and risky. Simulation offers an efficient alternative for core skills training, though the instrument complex behaviour requires accurate replication. This paper reviews the mass-spring model used to simulate seven guidewires and three catheters, and the matching with their real world counterparts by tuning our model's bending coefficient, which allows replication of the instrument flexibility. This coefficient was matched through computed tomography imaging of a vascular phantom in which each instrument was inserted and manipulated. With an average distance of 2.27 mm (standard deviation: 1.54) between real and virtual instruments, our representation showed realistic behaviour.

Simulation of endovascular guidewire behaviour and experimental validation.

Guidewire manipulation is a core skill in endovascular interventional radiology procedures. Simulation-based training offers a valuable alternative for mastering these skills, but requires a faithful replication of complex guidewire behaviour inside the vasculature. This paper presents the integration of real flexural modulus (FM) measurements into our guidewire model that mimics the flexibility of standard guidewires. The variation of FM along the length of each wire was determined for seven commonly used guidewires using a three-point bending test for the main body and a two-point bending test for the flexible end. Guidewire FM values were then attributed to seven different models, each formed by a series of particles connected by links of variable FM and replicating the flexible end shape. The FM integration was done through a trial and error process matching real FM to virtual bending coefficient. This mass-spring representation captures the required range of behaviour and enables accurate deformation within virtual vasculature.