This article explains, in educational terms, embolization microcatheter — how the technology works and where it fits. Catheters and guidewires are the working tools of minimally invasive procedures, used to gain vascular access and navigate to a target inside the body. As a medical device manufacturer, INVAMED develops technologies in this area; the information here is educational and not medical advice.
Background: Endovascular, Neurovascular and Urological Access and Delivery
Device characteristics such as diameter, length, tip shape, coating, and support are matched to the anatomy and task, and are selected by the treating clinician. Access is commonly established with an introducer sheath, which creates a stable, valved entry point through the vessel wall for exchanging devices. Catheters and guidewires are the working tools of minimally invasive procedures, used to gain vascular access and navigate to a target inside the body.
Embolization and Detachable-Tip Catheters
Embolization microcatheters deliver embolic agents to a target vessel to occlude blood flow as part of an intervention. A detachable distal tip is a design feature intended to allow safe catheter withdrawal in certain embolization techniques. INVAMED's portfolio includes an embolization microcatheter and a detachable-tip embolization catheter system with a distal detachable tip. The choice of embolization catheter and technique is determined by the interventionalist.
Design and Technical Notes
INVAMED organizes its catheter and guidewire portfolio by function — access, crossing, support, delivery, and retrieval — across sizes, tip shapes, and coatings. All INVAMED catheter and guidewire devices are intended for use by trained clinicians under appropriate imaging guidance and per the IFU. Device sizing across French, inch, and centimeter units must be matched to the vessel, the access site, and the devices being delivered, as determined by the clinician.
Key Considerations
- Sheath inner and outer diameters carry different implications for device compatibility and access, and should be confirmed in product documentation.
- Product specifications and dimension ranges are provided in INVAMED documentation and reflect device design rather than guaranteed clinical outcomes.
- All INVAMED catheter and guidewire devices are intended for use by trained clinicians under appropriate imaging guidance and per the IFU.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GuideX guide extension catheter?
GuideX is INVAMED's mother-and-child guide extension catheter, which is the subject of a randomized clinical trial versus the Launcher guiding catheter in PCI (GUIDEX_FR, NCT06009757).
What construction do the AngioCATH guiding catheters use?
AngioCATH Guiding Catheters use durable PEBAX/PA polymer construction with a PTFE-coated lumen and multiple tip shapes for cardiac and peripheral anatomies.
Are these catheter and guidewire devices CE marked?
Device availability and regulatory status vary by country. Please contact INVAMED or your authorized local distributor for current regulatory information applicable to your region.
Clinical and Technical Context
InWIRE Peripheral Guidewires are available with nitinol or stainless steel cores in 0.035 inch and 0.038 inch diameters. INVAMED offers a steerable support catheter with a deflectable tip and a re-entry system within its catheter portfolio. Its use is directed by the neurointerventionalist according to the procedure and anatomy. Tip shape, coating, core material, and support characteristics are selected to fit the specific navigation, crossing, or delivery task. These tools are applied across endovascular, neurovascular, and urological interventions, from crossing coronary and peripheral lesions to accessing the urinary tract. Sheath inner and outer diameters carry different implications for device compatibility and access, and should be confirmed in product documentation. The appropriate tip shape and catheter are chosen by the clinician for the target anatomy. The Keeper Endovascular Snare uses a multi-loop design with maximum radial force, low-profile catheter introduction, and is single-use and sterile.
Related on INVAMED
- Comprehensive Catheter & Guidewire Systems — product category
- Neurovascular Guidewires: How It Works and Why It Matters
- Nitinol core or Stainless steel core? A Technical Comparison
- Comparing Hydrophilic coating and PTFE coating
Important Disclaimer
The information here is provided for educational purposes and to describe device technology; it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Only a licensed healthcare provider can determine whether a given procedure or device is appropriate for a specific patient. INVAMED products are restricted to use by qualified professionals following the official IFU. Regulatory clearance and labeling differ between regions, and not all products or indications are available in every market.
Reviewed by the INVAMED Medical Affairs team. Content is educational and technical in nature.