CATHETER FOR LEFT CORONARY ARTERY

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a catheter which can be introduced into the lumen of the left coronary artery from the artery of an arm, especially the brachial artery or the radial artery easily, safely and rapidly. SOLUTION: The catheter 1 has an outer diameter of ≤ 2.7 mm over its total length and the catheter main body 1a thereof comprises an almost linear main body part 2 and a distal end part 3 having a curved shape. The distal end part 3 of the main body comprises a bent part 4, an almost linear part 31, a bent part 5, an almost linear part 32, a bent part 6, an almost linear part 33, a bent part 7 and the foremost distal end part 34 successively from the proximal end of the main body. The angle α2formed by the almost linear part 31 and the almost linear part 32 is 30-150° and the angle α3formed by the almost linear part 32 and the almost linear part 33 is 60-120°. When the distal end of the catheter is located at the lumen part of the left coronary artery, the bent part 4 is shaped so as to be introduced into the aortic arch from the brachiocephalic artery and the almost linear part 32 is shaped so as to come into contact with the wall of the aortic arch on the side opposite to the lumen of the left coronary artery. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI