CIR Equipment Technology & Device Management Flashcards

What is the primary purpose of a hydrophilic coating on an interventional guidewire?

Answer: To reduce friction and improve trackability through tortuous vessels

Hydrophilic coatings reduce surface friction when wet, allowing guidewires to navigate through tortuous or occluded vessels with greater ease.

Which catheter design feature is most important for delivering a coronary stent to a distal lesion?

Answer: High pushability and low crossing profile

A low crossing profile allows the stent delivery catheter to pass through tight stenoses, while high pushability ensures the device can be advanced to distal target sites.

What does the French (Fr) size designation indicate about an interventional catheter or sheath?

Answer: The outer diameter in millimeters multiplied by 3

The French size equals three times the outer diameter in millimeters (1 Fr = 0.333 mm OD), so a 6 Fr sheath has an outer diameter of approximately 2 mm.

When selecting a balloon catheter for coronary angioplasty, which parameter determines the maximum pressure the balloon can withstand before rupturing?

Answer: Rated burst pressure (RBP)

The rated burst pressure (RBP) is the manufacturer-tested maximum pressure at which 99.9% of balloons will not rupture, guiding safe inflation limits.

A non-compliant balloon differs from a semi-compliant balloon primarily in that it:

Answer: Maintains a consistent diameter even at high inflation pressures

Non-compliant balloons resist expansion beyond their nominal diameter at high pressures, making them ideal for stent post-dilation and resistant lesions.

Which hemostasis valve on a guide catheter allows instrument exchanges without significant blood loss or air entry?

Answer: Y-connector with rotating hemostatic valve

The Y-connector with a rotating hemostatic valve seals around guidewires and devices during exchanges while the side port allows continuous flushing.