Because of the hydrophilic coating on the surface of the guidewire, a smooth gel is formed on the surface of the guidewire when it encounters liquid, which increases lubrication and reduces friction, making the guidewire very lubricated and able to pass through narrow areas.
The hydrophilic guidewire is composed of three main parts: the core wire, the sheath, and the coating. Usually, the core wire is made of nickel-titanium alloy which is tapered at the front end, the polymer sheath is molded from TPU, and most of the surface coatings are PVP, PAM, and so on.
The hydrophilic guidewire head end (soft end) has two forms, one is straight and one is curved. The straight guidewire can easily enter the lumen opening, and the curved guidewire can more easily pass through the twisted section of the lumen.
The difference between hydrophilic guidewires and other types of guidewires is the word "slippery."
In layman's terms, other types of guidewires are like ceramic floors, light but not too slippery, and hydrophilic guidewires are like ceramic floors sprinkled with oil, so slippery that they can slip and fall.
Because it is sufficiently lubricated, the hydrophilic guidewire is excellent at passing through complex stenoses of all kinds, allowing subsequent instruments to enter smoothly and minimizing tissue damage. Hydrophilic guidewire is also used in the clinic for the "head start", to protect and signpost the function, and to play the role of the pioneer of the test.