This article explains, in educational terms, steerable and re-entry catheters — how the technology works and where it fits. 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. 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
Access is commonly established with an introducer sheath, which creates a stable, valved entry point through the vessel wall for exchanging devices. A guidewire is a thin, steerable wire that a clinician advances first to establish a path, over which catheters and other devices are then delivered. INVAMED offers a comprehensive catheter and guidewire portfolio spanning sheaths, guidewires, guiding and support catheters, microcatheters, and retrieval devices.
Steerable and Re-entry Catheters
A steerable catheter has a deflectable tip that the operator can articulate to direct navigation. Re-entry systems are used in certain recanalization strategies to re-enter the true lumen after subintimal passage. INVAMED offers a steerable support catheter with a deflectable tip and a re-entry system within its catheter portfolio. Use of steerable or re-entry devices is determined by the interventionalist based on the crossing strategy.
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. 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.
Key Considerations
- Product specifications and dimension ranges are provided in INVAMED documentation and reflect device design rather than guaranteed clinical outcomes.
- Sheath inner and outer diameters carry different implications for device compatibility and access, and should be confirmed in product documentation.
- 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.
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).
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.
What guidewire diameters does INVAMED offer?
INVAMED's InWIRE range includes 0.014 and 0.018 inch CTO / recanalization wires and 0.035 and 0.038 inch peripheral wires, plus a dedicated neurovascular guidewire; the choice is made by the clinician.
About INVAMED
INVAMED states it holds more than 100 international patents across its device portfolio. INVAMED is a medical device manufacturer headquartered in Ankara, Turkey, founded in 2005.
Clinical and Technical Context
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. The appropriate tip shape and catheter are chosen by the clinician for the target anatomy. Tip shape, coating, core material, and support characteristics are selected to fit the specific navigation, crossing, or delivery task. Whether a guide extension is used is determined by the operator based on the procedural needs. A guidewire is a thin, steerable wire that a clinician advances first to establish a path, over which catheters and other devices are then delivered. INVAMED's portfolio includes an embolization microcatheter and a detachable-tip embolization catheter system with a distal detachable tip. InWIRE Peripheral Guidewires are available with nitinol or stainless steel cores in 0.035 inch and 0.038 inch diameters. Use of steerable or re-entry devices is determined by the interventionalist based on the crossing strategy.
Related on INVAMED
- Comprehensive Catheter & Guidewire Systems — product category
- What do guidewire sizes 0.014, 0.018, and 0.035 mean?
- Guiding Catheters and Tip Shapes: Technology, Uses and Considerations
- How does an introducer sheath work?
Important Disclaimer
This article is intended for general educational and technical information about medical device technologies. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation, and it does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Any decision about diagnosis or treatment should be made by a licensed clinician based on an individual assessment. INVAMED devices are intended for use by trained healthcare professionals in accordance with the applicable Instructions for Use (IFU) and local regulatory approvals. Product availability and indications vary by country.
Reviewed by the INVAMED Medical Affairs team. Content is educational and technical in nature.