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

OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.