Comparative study of the physical properties of microcatheters frequently used for abdominal IVR

: The purpose of this study was to determine the physical properties of commercially available microcatheters through basic experiments. The materials included eleven different types of widely used microcatheters, ten of which were 135 cm in length and the remaining one 113 cm. Five samples of each catheter were examined. For each catheter, we measured the flow rate, flexibility of the tip, rigidity of the proximal part, smoothness of the outer and inner surfaces, kink resistance of the tip, and pressure resistance of the whole catheter. In conclusion, an ideal microcatheter should satisfy the following criteria: 1) the internal lumen must be large enough to allow high flow volume, and the wall must be enforced by braiding to withstand higher injection pressure; 2) the tip of the catheter must be soft, but must increase in hardness as it approaches the proximal end; 3) it must have a hydrophilic coating on the surface for an appropriate length.