Microcatheter tip position and microguidewire stiffness were the primary determinants of tip contact force transmitted to distal vessel segments during neuroendovascular navigation in this model. Stiffer microguidewires exert significantly greater tip contact force, particularly when the microcatheter is positioned near the distal segment. Maintaining the microcatheter tip proximally attenuates these forces and offers a simple strategy to reduce mechanical loading of fragile distal branches during distal access procedures.
Fukuda et al. (Tue,) studied this question.