Heparin release from slippery-when-wet guide wires for intravascular use.

Thin metallic wires with an adherent hydrophilic/ lubricious polymeric coating were manufactured in a new extrusion-like procedure. This procedure is part of a novel and efficient way of assembling lubricious guide wires for intravascular interventions, such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. It is reported that heparin can readily be incorporated in the hydrophilic coating.