摘要 |
A guidewire compatible for use with magnetic resonance systems is made from a non-metallic material with a high specific electric impedance, preferably constructed primarily of a glass body. Possible material selections for the glass body include quartz. Further enhancements to the present invention are as follows. Moreover, the glass body may be sheathed in a protective polymer layer, which is also non-metallic and tends to improve the physical characteristics of the guidewire. The sheath may preferably be reinforced with a number of reinforcing fibers, which may be made from carbon, borium, aramide and also various types of glass fibers. If necessary to obtain the desired physical performance of the guidewire, including high flexibility at the distal end, a distal portion of the guidewire may be constructed of metal components according to designs known in the art. Such a metal tip portion may be made of nitinol, and should be substantially shorter than the wavelength of the magnetic resonance field.
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