Guglielmi Detachable Coil
Encyclopedia
A Guglielmi Detachable Coil, or GDC, is a platinum
coil commonly used in intracranial non-invasive surgery for the occlusion of brain aneurysms
. It was invented by Italian interventional neuroradiologist Dr. Guido Guglielmi in 1990, and was gradually introduced in the later 1990s as an alternative to surgical clipping
, which requires invasive surgery.
The peculiarities of this coil lie in its physical as well as its electrolytical
properties: The material has a high memory effect
, allowing it to easily bend and regain its original coil shape. It is also highly sensitive to low currents, which allow the GDC to detach from the catheter
that carries it, thus receiving the name of "detachable coil".
The long-term efficacy of GDC coils and similar coils in the treatment of cerebral aneurysm
s is still being studied.
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
coil commonly used in intracranial non-invasive surgery for the occlusion of brain aneurysms
Cerebral aneurysm
A cerebral or brain aneurysm is a cerebrovascular disorder in which weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein causes a localized dilation or ballooning of the blood vessel.- Signs and symptoms :...
. It was invented by Italian interventional neuroradiologist Dr. Guido Guglielmi in 1990, and was gradually introduced in the later 1990s as an alternative to surgical clipping
Clipping (medicine)
Clipping is a surgical procedure performed to treat an aneurysm. If the aneurysm is intracranial, a craniotomy is performed, and afterwards an Elgiloy or titanium Sugita clip is affixed around the aneurysm's neck....
, which requires invasive surgery.
The peculiarities of this coil lie in its physical as well as its electrolytical
Electrolysis
In chemistry and manufacturing, electrolysis is a method of using a direct electric current to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous chemical reaction...
properties: The material has a high memory effect
Memory effect
Memory effect, also known as battery effect, lazy battery effect or battery memory, is an alleged effect observed in nickel cadmium rechargeable batteries that causes them to hold less charge...
, allowing it to easily bend and regain its original coil shape. It is also highly sensitive to low currents, which allow the GDC to detach from the catheter
Catheter
In medicine, a catheter is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel. Catheters thereby allow drainage, administration of fluids or gases, or access by surgical instruments. The process of inserting a catheter is catheterization...
that carries it, thus receiving the name of "detachable coil".
The long-term efficacy of GDC coils and similar coils in the treatment of cerebral aneurysm
Cerebral aneurysm
A cerebral or brain aneurysm is a cerebrovascular disorder in which weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein causes a localized dilation or ballooning of the blood vessel.- Signs and symptoms :...
s is still being studied.