Recombinant hirudin is widely used in medical and research applications due to its potent anticoagulant properties. It is primarily employed as a direct thrombin inhibitor, making it effective in preventing blood clots in conditions such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and during surgeries like coronary angioplasty. Its ability to bind tightly and specifically to thrombin without requiring cofactors makes it a valuable alternative to heparin, especially in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Additionally, recombinant hirudin is utilized in laboratory settings for studying blood coagulation mechanisms and developing new anticoagulant therapies. Its stability and specificity also make it a useful tool in diagnostic assays for measuring thrombin activity.