The team's torque device will feature a mechanism enabling lateral wire loading/unloading, reducing the time spent preparing a guidewire to be navigated through applicable vasculature.

Project Overview

Interventional procedures, endovascular procedures, and cardiac catheterization labs all involve the use of small instruments for minimally invasive treatment and surgery. Guidewires are used to navigate blood vessels during procedures and act as guides for larger catheters. The insertion of the guide wire is controlled by a torque device, which allows the surgeon to advance, rotate and grip the guidewire. Because the torque device is introduced through the far end of the guidewire, some 180-300 cm away from the operation site, it requires the assistance of another individual, often a surgical technician. Current torque devices require the surgeon to use two hands to control the tightening, advancing, and loosening of the device. This project aims to create a clip-on torque device that would enable the surgeon to easily place the torque device along any location on the guidewire and rotate the wire with one hand. This would eliminate the need for pass-through maneuvers and save critical operation time.

Team Picture

Contact Information

Team Members

• Sarah Edwards - Team Leader
• Alexi Harrod - Communicator & BSAC
• Dominic Dovalis - BWIG
• Micaiah Severe - BPAG
• Firas Hikmat

Advisor and Client

• David Piotrowski - Advisor
• Dr. Dai Yamanouchi - Client

Related Projects

• Spring 2023: Clip-on torque device for quick and easy wire manipulation during endovascular procedures
• Fall 2022: Clip-on torque device for quick and easy wire manipulation during endovascular procedures
• Spring 2022: Clip-on torque device for quick and easy wire manipulation during endovascular procedures
• Fall 2021: Clip-on torque device for quick and easy wire manipulation during endovascular procedures