Thermally Drawn Polymeric Catheters for MR-Guided Cardiovascular Intervention

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including congenital heart diseases (CHD), present significant global health challenges, emphasizing the need for safe and effective treatment modalities. Fluoroscopy-guided endovascular interventions are widely utilized but raise concerns about ionizing radiation, especially in pediatric cases. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a radiation-free alternative with superior soft tissue visualization and functional insights. However, the lack of compatible instruments remains a major obstacle. An adapted thermal drawing platform that enables low-cost and rapid prototyping of instruments for MR-guided endovascular interventions is introduced. This platform is demonstrated through the development of two exemplary catheter systems: a tendon-driven steerable catheter with helical lumina and an active tracking Tiger-shaped catheter with an embedded coaxial wire. These catheters exhibit mechanical properties comparable to commercial counterparts and show promising outcomes in both in vitro and in vivo feasibility testing. This scalable thermal drawing platform addresses the limitations of existing manufacturing approaches and facilitates the exploration of diverse designs, potentially accelerating advancements in catheter technologies for MR-guided cardiovascular interventions.