No two patients' vascular anatomy is identical, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the small, tortuous branches microcatheters are designed to navigate. Rather than manufacturing an impractical number of pre-formed tip shapes to match every anatomical variation, many microcatheters are built with tips that operators can custom-shape immediately before use — a technique known as steam shaping.
What Is Steam Shaping and Why Is It Used?
Steam shaping is a technique in which a microcatheter's distal tip, often supported internally by a shaping mandrel or stylet, is exposed to steam for a brief period to soften the polymer enough to reform its curve, then held in the desired shape as it cools and sets. This allows an operator to create a tip angle tailored to a specific vessel branch encountered during pre-procedure imaging review, rather than relying solely on a limited set of manufacturer-preformed shapes that may not match every anatomical variant.
How Does Anatomy Matching Improve Procedural Efficiency?
Selective catheterization of small, distal, or unusually angled vessel branches often depends on the microcatheter tip approaching the branch origin at roughly the correct angle on the first or second attempt. A custom-shaped tip, formed to approximate the angle observed on prior imaging, can reduce the number of manipulation attempts needed to enter a challenging branch, potentially shortening procedure time and reducing unnecessary vessel wall contact compared to working with a mismatched standard curve.
What Determines Whether a Shaped Tip Holds Its Form?
Shape retention after steam shaping depends on the specific polymer used in the microcatheter's tip construction and how the shaping technique is performed, including steam exposure time and cooling process. A well-executed steam shape is intended to hold its set curve through insertion and navigation, though operators generally follow manufacturer-specific shaping instructions to achieve consistent, reliable results rather than improvising technique.
How Does Steam Shaping Apply to MicroCATH?
INVAMED's MicroCATH Neurovascular Catheter Family is designed as a comprehensive microcatheter lineup intended for fine navigation through tortuous cerebral vessels, supporting applications such as coiling, liquid embolic infusion, and distal exploration. As with microcatheters generally, tip customization via steam shaping — where supported by the specific device — should follow the manufacturer's Instructions for Use to ensure the shaped tip performs as intended during navigation. Further details are available on the broader catheter and guidewire systems category page on invamed.com.
How is the shape chosen before a procedure?
Operators typically review pre-procedure imaging, such as angiography or cross-sectional studies, to estimate the angle and curvature needed to access a specific target vessel branch, then shape the microcatheter tip to approximate that angle before insertion.
Device availability and regulatory status vary by country. Please contact INVAMED or your authorized local distributor for current regulatory information applicable to your region.