Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, with the World Health Organization estimating that it causes 17.9 million deaths a year. One particular concern is the accumulation of calcium deposits in coronary arteries, a condition that significantly increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Traditional methods of treating calcified arteries such as angioplasty and stenting often struggle against these hardened deposits, but intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) is emerging as a minimally invasive alternative.
Originally employed in urology to break down kidney stones, lithotripsy has now been adapted for cardiovascular applications with intravascular lithotripsy (IVL).
This process delivers precisely controlled electric shocks to calcium deposits within the arteries that break down hardened calcium without damaging surrounding soft tissue, allowing blood flow to be restored efficiently and safely.
IVL shockwave devices: How do they work?
A key factor in the effectiveness of IVL has been advancements in the design of shockwave medical devices. As a leading innovator in advanced materials and precision medical device solutions, Alleima has worked closely with leading medical device manufacturer to provide state-of-the-art wire-based solutions and components essential to the success of these devices.
The first step to successful IVL is to position the electrode at the calcium build-up site. Guidewires are essential in navigating the IVL catheter through intricate and narrow arteries. Alleima recommends using nitinol wires known for their considerable flexibility, kink resistance, and durability. The material is a unique combination of nickel and titanium alloy. Nitinol exhibits biocompatible, shape memory and super-elastic properties that make it ideal for delicate and demanding cardiovascular procedures.
The electrode transmits electric shocks directly to calcium deposits, ensuring patient safety and treatment effectiveness. Electrodes are often enhanced through electroplating, a process involving depositing a thin metal layer onto the electrode surface to boost conductivity, resistance to corrosion, and longevity. Alleima specialises in electroplating by applying barrel, rack or reel-to-reel plating depending on the unique requirements of its customers. By precisely applying metallic coatings such as gold and silver to electrodes and wires used in intravascular lithotripsy, Alleima enhances the safety and durability of medical devices.
Transmitting wires within IVL catheters are equally important, delivering electric pulses from the external control unit directly to the electrodes positioned at the site of calcium build-up. Alleima partners with medical device manufacturers to design, develop and manufacture highly sophisticated transmitting wires specifically engineered to withstand electrical stress while maintaining flexibility and durability and ensuring uninterrupted, precise energy delivery.
Alleima wide range of precision manufacturing capabilities also include providing polymer coatings that are added to provide a dielectric barrier, ensuring effective electrical signal transmission and offering benefits such as ionic barriers, enhanced corrosion resistance, and improved lubricity. Selecting the optimal coating is the key to end-performance success and is a balancing act between engineering, chemistry, and functionality that tests even the most experienced design teams. Identifying the optimal coating during the initial design phase is essential to prevent unfavourable outcomes in subsequent device processing steps.
The future of intravascular lithotripsy
Intravascular lithotripsy technology is advancing rapidly, with current innovations focusing on integrating sensors and advanced tech to provide real-time procedural feedback. The rise of IVL is also part of an ongoing trend towards minimally invasive surgery in cardiovascular care, which is reducing the risks of infection, scarring, and prolonged hospital stays, leading to faster recovery times.
Alleima’s dedication to research and innovation has positioned them as an indispensable partner in the field of cardiovascular surgery and intravascular lithotripsy, with their engineering capabilities allowing for the integration of smart tech and the development of precision wire-based components pivotal to the success of minimally invasive techniques.
Advances in intravascular lithotripsy are part of a significant step forward in cardiovascular medicine. By effectively reducing the risks of heart attacks and strokes associated with calcified arteries, IVL not only enhances patient outcomes but also offers a glimpse into the promising future of minimally invasive cardiac care.
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