Fig. 5. (A) The steerable microcatheter. The operator can optimally control the direction of the steerable tip by turning the steerable dial (white arrow) attached to the proximal end. A steerable dial lock (white arrowhead) is used to maintain the intended orientation. When the operator is not operating the steerable dial, the shape of the steerable tip is straight. The steerable dial at hand can be adjusted and rotated to any position at the operator’s intention, and the tip of the microcatheter can be bent to a range of angles up to 180°. (B) A 78-year-old male presented with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Contrast enhanced computed tomography showed multiple hypervascular tumors indicating as multiple HCCs. A2 bifurcated independently from the left hepatic artery, A3 and A4 bifurcated from the next bifurcating middle hepatic artery, and then the right hepatic artery bifurcates. The origin of the middle hepatic artery ran in an inverted, steep shape (open arrow), making it difficult to insert a microcatheter with a micro guide-wire. (C) The tip of the steerable microcatheter was bent to a steep angle at the origin of the middle hepatic artery by turning a dial at the hub of microcatheter. The steeply bent microcatheter tip (white arrow) could be inserted directly into the origin of the middle hepatic artery.
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