Types of Catheters

Amplatz Coronary Catheter

J-shaped angiographic catheter, alternative for Judkins

Balloon Catheter

Tip has inflatable balloon

Brockenbrough Transseptal Catheter

Highly specialized cardiac catheter with curved steel inner needle that can puncture interatrial septum

Cardiac Catheter

Fine long tube designed to enter into the chambers of the heart

Castillo Catheter

Cardiac catheter similar to Amplatz in shape and use but is shorter and introduced via brachial artery

Fogarty Catheter

Balloon-tipped catheter used to remove thrombi and emboli from blood vessels

Gensini Coronary Catheter

For coronary arteriography, can monitor pressure, and can inject large volumes of contrast media

Groshong Catheter

Single double lumen cardiac catheter inserted into right atrium with external port and can be used for longterm. Has no need for clamping.

Gruentzig Balloon Catheter

Flexible balloon catheter with short guidewire fixed to its tip, and is used for dilation of arterial stenosis

Judkins Coronary Catheter

Preformed J-shaped angiographic catheter used to deliver contrast media during coronary arteriography

Left Coronary Catheter

Catheter specifically for the left coronary artery

NIH Catheter

Has closed end and several side holes for rapid injection of volumes of contrast media

Pezzer’s Catheter or de Pezzer Catheter

Catheter ending in tightly curved tip that resembles the tail of a pig

Prostatic Elbowed Catheter

Sones Coronary Catheter

Subclavian Catheter

Straight Catheter

Non-braided catheters that can be reshaped by heating them under a steam jet (has many shapes)

Reverse-Curve Catheter

Tip is advanced into a vessel by catheter withdrawal at the groin. Versatile but must be reformed after aorta or IVC

Pigtail-type catheter

Used for angiography in large vessels, and for drainage procedures

Sheaths

Thin-walled valved catheters placed at the skin access site to prevent oozing or hematoma around puncture site and minimize vessel trauma from multiple catheter exchanges

Greater Catheter

Allow safer or more secure passage of devices into vessels (stent placement or coil embolism). Sometimes inserted through larger sheaths placed at vascular access sites

Microcatheter

Pass through standard angiography catheters and make intervention in small or tortuous arteries safe. It is guided by small-caliber steerable wires (e.g. 0.014 - 0.018 inch)