Optimal Heating Temperature and Time for Echelon 10 and Excelsior SL-10 Shaping Using a Heat Gun.

Abstract

The optimal heating temperature and time for the Echelon10 and Excelsior SL-10 microcatheters using a heat gun was investigated. The durability of the microcatheters after heat gun shaping for the second and third times was also examined. HAKKO FV-310 was used as the heat gun in this study. This heat gun can be set to 115°C, 125°C, and others. We measured the temperature at 2.5 cm from the nozzle of the heat gun. The Echelon10 and SL-10 microcatheters were shaped under two temperature conditions (115°C and 125°C) and three heating times (30 sec, 60 sec, and 90 sec). The microcatheter shape before heating had twice the curvature of the targeted shape. The temperatures at 2.5 cm from the nozzle were 120.6°C and 127.8°C with the heat gun set at 115°C and 125°C, respectively. There was no macroscopic difference in the results of heat gun shaping of the Echelon10 among temperature settings (115°C and 125°C) or heating times (30 sec, 60 sec, and 90 sec). As degeneration of the heated tip of the SL-10 at 125°C occurred in four of five trials, heat gun shaping was performed using the 115°C setting. There was no macroscopic difference in the results of heat gun shaping of the SL-10 among heating times. Shaping for the second and third times was successful at 115°C and 30-sec heating time. The Echelon10 and SL-10 can be successfully shaped from twice the curvature of the targeted shape using a heat gun at 120°C for 30 sec. Shaping for the second and third times was successful using the same settings. Degeneration of the SL-10 was noted at temperatures above 130°C.