Component Atlas

Catheters & Delivery Systems

Reinforced shafts, liners, balloons, and the parts between hub and tip.

25 categories  |  Component Atlas › Catheters & Delivery Systems

About catheter shafts A catheter shaft is a stack, and almost every property a clinician notices comes from how that stack is arranged rather than from any single layer.

The stack, from the lumen out

Most reinforced shafts are built inside out: a liner sets the lumen and the surface the device slides against, reinforcement goes over it, and a polymer jacket is reflowed over both to become one wall.

The liner is usually etched on its outer surface. Untreated PTFE will not bond, so the jacket would delaminate from the liner rather than laminate to it — the etch is what makes the stack a wall instead of a set of tubes.

Why the jacket changes along the length

A shaft usually needs to be stiff where it is pushed and soft where it has to turn. That is achieved with a durometer ladder: jacket segments of decreasing hardness toward the tip, reflowed into a continuous wall.

The transitions matter more than the segments. A large hardness step concentrates bending at the joint, which is where a shaft kinks, so the ladder is usually stepped in several stages rather than a few.

Reinforcement is a trade, not an upgrade

Braid buys torque response. Coil buys kink resistance and flexibility. Neither is better; they fail differently, and which failure you can tolerate is a property of the procedure, not of the catheter.

The comparison page works through the trade axis by axis.

What usually sets the size

Working lumen first, because it is a requirement rather than a choice — the device that has to pass through it sets the minimum ID. Wall follows from the reinforcement and the pressure requirement. OD is what is left, and it is usually constrained by the introducer or the anatomy.

When those three do not close, something has to give, and it is worth knowing which one before the first build rather than after.

Standards that actually apply

ISO 10555
Intravascular catheters — sterile and single-use. The general requirements series.
ISO 594 / ISO 80369
Conical fittings. 80369 is the small-bore connector series that replaced 594, and it exists specifically to prevent misconnection between applications.

Listed because they bear on the choices above — not as a compliance checklist, and not as advice about which apply to your device.

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Shaft Construction

Distal Components

Proximal Components

Component Catalog & Supplier Offerings

Click any component in the visual grid above to jump to its engineering specifications and listed suppliers below. Click any supplier row for its stated focus, the evidence behind its rating, and one-click RFQ formulation.

Listed from public sources. Not contacted or endorsed by 10xAnd. Evidence ratings count checks against public sources — how they work.

PTFE Liners

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Key Specs: ID, wall, etch

The inner lumen liner. Its outer surface is usually etched so the jacket bonds to it during reflow.

📐 Standard Stock Sizes & Scales

Standard Catheter PTFE Liner Stock Sizes (Sodium Naphthalene Etched OD)

ASTM D3295 / ASTM D1457 (USP Class VI Virgin PTFE)
Draft RFQ for Selected Size ›
ID: 0.015″ (0.381 mm) Wall: 0.00075″ (0.019 mm) Max OD: 0.0165″ (0.419 mm) Target: Coronary microcatheters, rapid exchange lumen
Toggle Complete Stock Size Table (9 sizes)
Size Label Nominal ID (in) Nominal ID (mm) Wall (in) Wall (mm) Max OD (in) Application Action
0.014″ Guidewire Compatible 0.0150″ 0.381 0.00075″ 0.019 0.0165″ Coronary microcatheters, rapid exchange lumen RFQ ›
0.018″ Guidewire Compatible 0.0195″ 0.495 0.00075″ 0.019 0.0210″ Neurovascular microcatheter, coil delivery RFQ ›
0.021″ Aspiration / Delivery 0.0225″ 0.572 0.00100″ 0.025 0.0245″ Stent retriever delivery, aspiration lumen RFQ ›
0.027″ Intermediate Catheter 0.0285″ 0.724 0.00100″ 0.025 0.0305″ Distal access catheter (DAC), stroke therapy RFQ ›
0.035″ Universal Diagnostic (4 Fr) 0.0370″ 0.940 0.00100″ 0.025 0.0390″ 4 Fr diagnostic coronary & peripheral catheters RFQ ›
0.038″ Angiographic Lumen (5 Fr) 0.0400″ 1.016 0.00100″ 0.025 0.0420″ 5 Fr angiographic catheter, pigtail flush RFQ ›
0.070″ Large Bore Delivery (6 Fr) 0.0720″ 1.829 0.00150″ 0.038 0.0750″ 6 Fr coronary guide catheter, clot retriever RFQ ›
0.088″ Guide Sheath (7 Fr) 0.0900″ 2.286 0.00150″ 0.038 0.0930″ 7 Fr peripheral & neuro guide sheath RFQ ›
0.105″ Structural Heart Delivery (8 Fr) 0.1070″ 2.718 0.00200″ 0.051 0.1110″ 8 Fr–10 Fr transcatheter aortic valve / TAVR sheath RFQ ›
Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement

Reflow Tubing

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Key Specs: durometer, OD, length

Polymer jacket segments — typically a durometer ladder along the shaft — reflowed over the reinforcement.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement

Braid

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Key Specs: PIC count, pattern, wire

Woven wire reinforcement laminated into the wall. Buys torque response and kink resistance; costs stiffness and wall.

📐 Standard Stock Sizes & Scales

Standard Catheter Braid Wire & Flat Ribbon Stock Profiles

ASTM A313 / ASTM F2063 (304V Spring Temper / Nitinol)
Draft RFQ for Selected Size ›
Thickness: 0.001″ (0.025 mm) Width: 0.001″ (0.025 mm) Profile: Round Target: Microcatheter distal segment, ultra-flexible coil/braid
Toggle Complete Stock Size Table (10 sizes)
Profile Type Thick (in) Thick (mm) Width (in) Width (mm) Application Action
0.0010″ Round Wire (304V / Nitinol) Round 0.0010″ 0.025 0.0010″ 0.025 Microcatheter distal segment, ultra-flexible coil/braid RFQ ›
0.0015″ Round Wire (304V) Round 0.0015″ 0.038 0.0015″ 0.038 Standard neurovascular & coronary microcatheter RFQ ›
0.0020″ Round Wire (304V) Round 0.0020″ 0.051 0.0020″ 0.051 4 Fr–5 Fr diagnostic catheter, balanced push/track RFQ ›
0.0025″ Round Wire (304V) Round 0.0025″ 0.064 0.0025″ 0.064 6 Fr guide catheter, high torque transmission RFQ ›
0.0030″ Round Wire (304V) Round 0.0030″ 0.076 0.0030″ 0.076 7 Fr–8 Fr large bore structural delivery sheath RFQ ›
0.0005″ x 0.0025″ Flat Ribbon (304V) Flat Ribbon 0.0005″ 0.013 0.0025″ 0.064 Ultra-thin wall microcatheter (< 0.003″ total wall) RFQ ›
0.0007″ x 0.0030″ Flat Ribbon (304V) Flat Ribbon 0.0007″ 0.018 0.0030″ 0.076 Low-profile aspiration catheter, high lumen area RFQ ›
0.0010″ x 0.0030″ Flat Ribbon (304V) Flat Ribbon 0.0010″ 0.025 0.0030″ 0.076 Industry standard for 5 Fr–6 Fr guide catheters RFQ ›
0.0010″ x 0.0050″ Flat Ribbon (304V) Flat Ribbon 0.0010″ 0.025 0.0050″ 0.127 High 1:1 torque response, steerable catheter shaft RFQ ›
0.0015″ x 0.0050″ Flat Ribbon (304V) Flat Ribbon 0.0015″ 0.038 0.0050″ 0.127 High hoop-strength structural heart & TAVR introducers RFQ ›
Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement

Coils

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Key Specs: wire, pitch, flat/round

Wound reinforcement. Trades braid’s torque transmission for hoop strength and flexibility.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement

Hypotubes

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Key Specs: OD, ID, cut pattern

Thin-wall metal tubing for the proximal shaft, often laser-cut to grade stiffness toward the distal end.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement

Deflection Pull Rings

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Key Specs: OD, ID, anchor slots, laser-cut

Laser-cut stainless or nitinol distal rings and anchor collars with slots for catheter deflection steering wires.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement

Multi-Lumen Extrusions

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Key Specs: 2–8 lumens, Pebax/PEEK, OD

Precision medical polymer multi-lumen tubing providing independent channels for guidewires, inflation, optics, and steering wires.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement

Laser-Slotted Hypotubes

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Key Specs: cut pitch, interlocking puzzle, torque

Precision femtosecond or fiber laser micro-slotted metallic tubes providing 1:1 torque response and graduated flexibility for neurovascular access.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement
No suppliers listed for this category yet.

Braid-Over-Coil Shafts

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Key Specs: hybrid matrix, hoop strength, torque

Composite catheter reinforcement combining an inner wound ribbon coil with an outer woven braid to deliver maximum burst strength and kink resistance.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement
No suppliers listed for this category yet.

Marker Bands

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Key Specs: material, OD, width

Dense metal bands swaged into the distal shaft so the tip is visible under fluoroscopy.

📐 Standard Stock Sizes & Scales

Standard Radiopaque Marker Band Dimensions (90/10 Pt/Ir & Pure Gold)

ASTM B684 (Pt/Ir) / ASTM B562 (Gold 99.99%)
Draft RFQ for Selected Size ›
ID: 0.02″ (0.508 mm) OD: 0.024″ (0.61 mm) Length: 1 mm Wall: 0.002″ Target: Coronary angioplasty balloon tip, microcatheter
Toggle Complete Stock Size Table (8 sizes)
Marker Size ID (in) ID (mm) OD (in) Length (mm) Wall (in) Application Action
0.020″ ID x 1.0 mm (0.014″ wire systems) 0.0200″ 0.508 0.0240″ 1.0 0.0020″ Coronary angioplasty balloon tip, microcatheter RFQ ›
0.028″ ID x 1.0 mm (0.021″ microcatheter) 0.0280″ 0.711 0.0320″ 1.0 0.0020″ Neurovascular aspiration tip marker RFQ ›
0.035″ ID x 1.0 mm (0.027″ access catheter) 0.0350″ 0.889 0.0390″ 1.0 0.0020″ Distal access catheter, clot retrieval ring RFQ ›
0.042″ ID x 1.0 mm (3 Fr distal assembly) 0.0420″ 1.067 0.0460″ 1.0 0.0020″ Pediatric catheter, peripheral microcatheter RFQ ›
0.054″ ID x 1.5 mm (4 Fr catheter tip) 0.0540″ 1.372 0.0590″ 1.5 0.0025″ 4 Fr diagnostic coronary & electrophysiology tip RFQ ›
0.068″ ID x 1.5 mm (5 Fr guide catheter) 0.0680″ 1.727 0.0730″ 1.5 0.0025″ 5 Fr guide catheter distal fluoroscopy ring RFQ ›
0.082″ ID x 1.5 mm (6 Fr guide catheter) 0.0820″ 2.083 0.0870″ 1.5 0.0025″ 6 Fr guide catheter, renal stent delivery RFQ ›
0.100″ ID x 2.0 mm (7–8 Fr large bore sheath) 0.1000″ 2.540 0.1060″ 2.0 0.0030″ Transcatheter heart valve introducer sheath RFQ ›
Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement

Soft Tips

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Key Specs: durometer, length, taper

The atraumatic distal end, bonded to the shaft and usually the softest polymer on the device.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement

Balloons

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Key Specs: diameter, length, compliance

Blown or formed balloons bonded to the shaft; compliance class drives the whole design.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement

Coatings

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Key Specs: hydrophilic, length

Surface treatments — usually hydrophilic on the distal section — applied as a service, not a part.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement

Compliant Occlusion Balloons

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Key Specs: polyurethane, compliance, burst

High-compliance elastomeric balloons designed for temporary vessel occlusion, flow arrest, or organ isolation.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement

Radiopaque Marker Coils

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Key Specs: 90/10 Pt/Ir, 0.002″ wire, fluoroscopy

Tightly wound high-density platinum-iridium or gold micro-coils swaged onto distal tips and guidewires for continuous radiographic visualization.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement
No suppliers listed for this category yet.

Pre-Curved Atraumatic Tips

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Key Specs: pigtail, J-curve, thermal shape memory

Thermally shaped soft polymer tip extensions (pigtail, Judkins, Amplatz) engineered to prevent vessel dissection and tissue perforation during advancement.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement
No suppliers listed for this category yet.

Balloon Parison Tubing

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Key Specs: multi-layer Pebax/Nylon, tight wall tolerance

Extruded high-precision polymer parisons formulated for stretch blow-molding into high-pressure non-compliant angioplasty and stent-delivery balloons.

📐 Standard Stock Sizes & Scales

Precision Balloon Parison Extrusion Stock Sizes

Pebax 63D/72D, Grilamid L25, Vestamid Care ML21
Draft RFQ for Selected Size ›
Target Balloon OD: 1.5 mm Parison: 0.042″ OD / 0.026″ ID Material: Pebax 72D Burst: 22 atm Target: Coronary micro-dilation, chronic total occlusion
Toggle Complete Stock Size Table (8 sizes)
Target OD Parison OD Parison ID Wall (in) Material Burst Application Action
1.50 mm Nominal Balloon Parison 0.042″ 0.026″ 0.0080″ Pebax 72D 22 atm Coronary micro-dilation, chronic total occlusion RFQ ›
2.00 mm Nominal Balloon Parison 0.046″ 0.028″ 0.0090″ Pebax 70D 20 atm Small vessel PTCA coronary dilation RFQ ›
2.50 mm Nominal Balloon Parison 0.050″ 0.030″ 0.0100″ Pebax 63D 18 atm Standard coronary angioplasty RFQ ›
3.00 mm Nominal Balloon Parison 0.054″ 0.032″ 0.0110″ Pebax 63D 18 atm Coronary & peripheral stent post-dilation RFQ ›
3.50 mm Nominal Balloon Parison 0.058″ 0.034″ 0.0120″ Pebax 55D 16 atm Renal & iliac angioplasty RFQ ›
4.00 mm Nominal Balloon Parison 0.062″ 0.036″ 0.0130″ Pebax 55D 16 atm Femoral artery PTA balloon RFQ ›
5.00 mm Nominal Balloon Parison 0.070″ 0.040″ 0.0150″ Nylon 12 14 atm Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) stenosis RFQ ›
6.00 mm Nominal Balloon Parison 0.078″ 0.044″ 0.0170″ Nylon 12 14 atm High-pressure non-compliant peripheral dilation RFQ ›
Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement
No suppliers listed for this category yet.

Hubs & Luers

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Key Specs: ISO 80369-7, bore

The proximal termination and its fitting; luer taper geometry is specified by ISO 80369-7.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement

Strain Reliefs

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Key Specs: length, durometer

The moulded transition at the hub that stops the shaft kinking where stiffness changes abruptly.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement

Heat Shrink

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Key Specs: FEP/PET, ratio

Process tubing — FEP or PET — used to compress the stack during reflow, then removed or left in place.

📐 Standard Stock Sizes & Scales

Standard Medical Heat Shrink Profiles (FEP 1.3:1/1.6:1 & PET 2:1)

ASTM D2902 (FEP) / USP Class VI (PET Thin-Wall)
Draft RFQ for Selected Size ›
Exp ID: 0.03″ Rec ID: 0.018″ Rec Wall: 0.004″ Material: FEP 1.6:1 Target: Microcatheter distal tip reflow and bonding
Toggle Complete Stock Size Table (8 sizes)
Size Exp ID (in) Rec ID (in) Rec Wall (in) Material Application Action
FEP 0.030″ Exp / 0.018″ Rec (1.6:1) 0.030″ 0.018″ 0.00400″ FEP 1.6:1 Microcatheter distal tip reflow and bonding RFQ ›
FEP 0.045″ Exp / 0.025″ Rec (1.6:1) 0.045″ 0.025″ 0.00500″ FEP 1.6:1 2.5 Fr–3 Fr catheter jacket reflow RFQ ›
FEP 0.060″ Exp / 0.035″ Rec (1.6:1) 0.060″ 0.035″ 0.00600″ FEP 1.6:1 4 Fr diagnostic shaft reflow processing RFQ ›
FEP 0.085″ Exp / 0.050″ Rec (1.6:1) 0.085″ 0.050″ 0.00700″ FEP 1.6:1 5 Fr–6 Fr guide catheter lamination RFQ ›
FEP 0.120″ Exp / 0.070″ Rec (1.6:1) 0.120″ 0.070″ 0.00800″ FEP 1.6:1 7 Fr–8 Fr sheath reflow compression RFQ ›
PET 0.020″ Exp / 0.010″ Rec (Wall: 0.00025″) 0.020″ 0.010″ 0.00025″ PET Ultra-Thin Wall Permanent insulation sleeve, zero-profile bundle RFQ ›
PET 0.040″ Exp / 0.020″ Rec (Wall: 0.00035″) 0.040″ 0.020″ 0.00035″ PET Ultra-Thin Wall Electrosurgical shaft dielectric barrier (5 kV) RFQ ›
PET 0.080″ Exp / 0.040″ Rec (Wall: 0.00050″) 0.080″ 0.040″ 0.00050″ PET Ultra-Thin Wall Endoscopic working channel barrier liner RFQ ›
Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement

Core Wires

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Key Specs: material, taper, OD

Ground core wires that set the stiffness profile along the length of a wire or delivery system.

📐 Standard Stock Sizes & Scales

Standard Medical Core Wire Diameters & Taper Lengths

ASTM F2063 (Nitinol) / ASTM A313 (304V Stainless)
Draft RFQ for Selected Size ›
Diameter: 0.014″ (0.356 mm) Alloy: Superelastic Nitinol Target: Coronary angioplasty & neurovascular interventional wires
Toggle Complete Stock Size Table (7 sizes)
Size Dia (in) Dia (mm) Alloy Application Action
0.014″ Nitinol Core (180 cm / 300 cm) 0.0140″ 0.356 Superelastic Nitinol Coronary angioplasty & neurovascular interventional wires RFQ ›
0.014″ 304V Stainless Core (190 cm) 0.0140″ 0.356 304V High-Tensile SS Extra support coronary wires, high tactile feedback RFQ ›
0.018″ Nitinol Core (150 cm / 260 cm) 0.0180″ 0.457 Superelastic Nitinol Peripheral arterial intervention, micro-access RFQ ›
0.018″ 304V Stainless Core (180 cm) 0.0180″ 0.457 304V High-Tensile SS Carotid & renal stent delivery guidewire RFQ ›
0.035″ Nitinol Core (150 cm / 260 cm) 0.0350″ 0.889 Superelastic Nitinol Standard universal diagnostic & catheter exchange RFQ ›
0.035″ 304V Extra Stiff (150 cm / 260 cm) 0.0350″ 0.889 304V Extra Hard Amplatz-style extra-stiff support for EVAR / TAVR delivery RFQ ›
0.038″ 304V Heavy Support (150 cm) 0.0380″ 0.965 304V Spring Temper Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair, heavy introducers RFQ ›
Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement

Hemostasis Valves & Sidearms

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Key Specs: Tuohy-Borst, seal bore, French size

Low-bleed Tuohy-Borst compression valves, Y-connectors, and sidearm adapters controlling fluid pressure during catheter insertion.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement

Steering Control Handles

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Key Specs: deflection wheel, tension lock, lumens

Ergonomic proximal actuator handles with rack-and-pinion or thumbwheel sliders to tension pull-wires for bidirectional catheter tip deflection.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement
No suppliers listed for this category yet.

Rapid Exchange (RX) Collars

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Key Specs: skive notch, transition collar, monorail

Injection molded and laser-skived mid-shaft guidewire exit ports enabling single-operator catheter exchange without extended length wires.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement
No suppliers listed for this category yet.

Tuohy-Borst Sidearms

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Key Specs: Y-connector, flush luer, high pressure

Y-shaped polycarbonate infusion sidearm manifolds with adjustable silicone compression seals for continuous saline flush during interventional procedures.

Supplier Stated Capabilities & Technical Focus Evidence Procurement
No suppliers listed for this category yet.