A "wire-whip" catheter for selective catheterization of aortic branches.

A multipurpose "wire-ship" catheter has been developed for selective catheterization of branches arising from the aorta. The catheter tip is formed in three dimensions to allow simple selective catheterization and to provide improved stability during injection of contrast media by power injector or by hand. For successful catheterization it is essential to match the diameter of the catheter coil to the aortic lumen at the specific level to be studied; consequently, five standard sizes of coil diameter from 10--18 mm are currently produced. With an additional side hole in the coil, semiselective angiograms may be obtained. The wire-whip catheter has been used in over 200 angiographic examinations. The renal, celiac, superior and inferior mesenteric circulations have been most commonly studied, but other aortic branches such as the bronchial, intercostal, phrenic, and lumbar arteries have been catheterized as well. There have been no serious complications.