Real-Time Deflectable Tip Guidewire For Complex Intracranial Navigation—An Early Institutional Experience

Albert Q. Wu^1*, Priya Gaiha², Kyle Scott¹, Redi Rahmani¹, Sandeep Kandregula¹, Joshua S. Catapano¹, Omar Choudhri¹, Visish M. Srinivasan¹, Jan-Karl Burkhardt¹

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104

²Corporate Research, Artiria Medical SA, Canton de Vaud, CH

^*Presenting author

INTRODUCTION

Guidewires are used to select vessels and navigate tortuosity in endovascular procedures. The angle of most J-tip guidewires, such as Aristotle and Synchro, must be chosen or modified ex vivo. We report an early single-institution experience with the SmartGUIDE guidewire (Artiria Medical, Geneva, Switzerland), which allows real-time in situ distal tip deflection and locking.

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To present preliminary safety, efficacy, and usability data of a deflectable tip guidewire in neurointerventional procedures.

METHODS

• This was a single-arm, open label prospective study using an FDA cleared device for 23 procedures between August 2024 to May 2025.
• Data included target vessel access, first-line vs. rescue use, and device-related safety events.
• Usability was rated via a 5-point Likert scale on six domains: torque, pushability, navigation, shape retention, trackability, and radiopacity.
• Patients underwent standard postoperative imaging follow-up.

RESULTS

• Twenty-three patients were treated: 21 aneurysms (15 unruptured, 2 ruptured, 4 recurrent), 1 carotid stenosis, and 1 dural AVF. Most lesions were anterior (74%) with equal left and right sides.
• No intraoperative complications occurred. Postoperative vasospasm occurred in both cases where aneurysms were ruptured at presentation, unrelated to SmartGUIDE use.
• At 6-month follow-up (n=4), three aneurysms had complete occlusion (RROC 1) and one had residual neck (RROC 2). The remaining patients have not yet reached this timepoint.
• Trackability scored highest (mean 4.17; SD=0.72) and torque lowest (mean 3.26; SD=0.92).

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DISCUSSION / CONCLUSION

SmartGUIDE appears safe and effective, with favorable usability. Its in vivo tip control enhances navigation in complex vasculature. Ongoing evaluation and follow-up will provide further insight into its performance.

Abbreviations: ICA = internal carotid artery; MCA = middle cerebral artery; ACA = anteriorcerebral artery; ACoA = anterior communicating artery;V4 = intradural segment of the vertebral artery; PICA = posterior inferiorcerebellar artery; PCA = posterior cerebral artery; ECA = external carotidartery. *Anatomical location of the dAVF

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About SmartGUIDE™ 014

SmartGUIDE™ 014 is a real-time deflectable guidewire that enables in situ tip control for navigation in complex neurovascular anatomy without wire removal or hand-shaping. SmartGUIDE™ 014 is FDA cleared and CE marked and commercially available in the United States and Europe.

About Artiria Medical

Artiria Medical is a Swiss medical technology company developing innovative solutions for neurovascular procedures. Artiria’s mission is to deliver innovative solutions to treat hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes — leading cause of disability and death worldwide. More information is available at www.artiria-medical.com.

Contact information

Artiria Medical SA, Switzerland

communications@artiria-medical.com