A microcatheter is a very thin and small catheter, which is a flexible, hollow tube used in various medical procedures. Microcatheters are typically much smaller in diameter compared to standard catheters. They are designed to be inserted into blood vessels or other small anatomical structures, allowing medical professionals to deliver medications, contrast agents, or perform minimally invasive procedures with precision.
Microcatheters are commonly used in interventional radiology, cardiology, and neurosurgery. In interventional radiology, they can be used to guide the placement of devices, such as stents or coils, for treating vascular conditions. In cardiology, microcatheters are often used for procedures like angioplasty or embolization. In neurosurgery, they can help with procedures like aneurysm coiling or the delivery of medications directly into the brain.
The small size and flexibility of microcatheters make them valuable tools for accessing and treating delicate or narrow structures within the body while minimizing trauma to surrounding tissues.
