microcatheter
Ultra-thin catheter used to navigate small vessels and deliver devices to distal locations during vascular interventions.
Full Definition
A microcatheter is an extremely thin, flexible catheter typically measuring 2-3 French in diameter, designed for navigating tortuous small vessels and delivering embolic agents, coils, or other devices to precise locations. In vascular intervention, microcatheters are essential for accessing distal vessels that larger catheters cannot reach, particularly in neurovascular and peripheral interventions. They feature specialized tip designs and materials to provide optimal trackability and pushability while maintaining luminal patency. The choice of microcatheter depends on the target vessel anatomy, the device being delivered, and the complexity of the navigation required.
In Context
- "The interventionalist advanced a microcatheter through the tortuous middle cerebral artery to deliver coils to the aneurysm." — Neurovascular intervention report
- "A 2.7-French microcatheter was used to cannulate the target vessel for selective angiography." — Peripheral vascular procedure note