What Is IVUS (Intravascular Ultrasound)?
IVUS stands for Intravascular Ultrasound—it’s a catheter-based imaging technique that lets you see inside blood vessels using ultrasound. In Japanese, it’s called “血管内超音波,” which literally means “ultrasound inside the blood vessel.”
The images you get from IVUS look like cross-sections of the vessel, almost like slicing through it and seeing it from the inside. It’s commonly used to assess things like vessel diameter, plaque buildup, and overall lesion characteristics—perfect for guiding treatment.
To use IVUS, you need a dedicated console and a compatible catheter. Several companies offer systems, and each catheter has its own specs depending on the use case.
In this article, we’re focusing on peripheral IVUS catheters, especially ones that are often used in EVT (endovascular therapy) and stent graft procedures. We’ve listed key specs for each available product in Japan—hopefully it helps you find what you need quickly!
IVUS Catheters for EVT and Stent Graft Procedures
Philips VISIONS PV.018 IVUS Catheter – Specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product Name | VISIONS PV.018 |
| Manufacturer | Philips (formerly Volcano) |
| Compatible Guidewire | 0.018 inch |
| Delivery Type | RX: Rapid Exchange (Monorail) |
| Scanning Method | Electronic (Phased-array IVUS Catheter) |
| Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Imaging Range | 10–24 mm |
| Usable Length | 1350 mm |
| Guidewire Lumen Length | 310 mm |
| Tip Entry Profile | 0.030 inch |
| Shaft Max Outer Diameter | Transducer section: 3.5 Fr |
| Distance from Tip to Transducer | 13 mm |
| Compatible Consoles | S5 / CORE series / IntraSight |
| Special Features | ChromaFlo |
Philips VISIONS PV.018 OTW IVUS Catheter – Specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product Name | VISIONS PV.018 OTW |
| Manufacturer | Philips (formerly Volcano) |
| Compatible Guidewire | 0.018 inch |
| Delivery Type | OTW: Over The Wire |
| Scanning Method | Electronic (Phased-array IVUS Catheter) |
| Frequency | 20 MHz |
| Imaging Range | 8–20 mm |
| Usable Length | 1350 mm |
| Tip Entry Profile | 0.032 inch |
| Shaft Max Outer Diameter | Catheter shaft: 5.0 Fr |
| Distance from Tip to Transducer | 4 mm |
| Compatible Consoles | S5 / CORE series / IntraSight |
| Special Features | VH-IVUS / ChromaFlo |
Philips VISIONS PV.035 OTW IVUS Catheter – Specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product Name | VISIONS PV.035 OTW |
| Manufacturer | Philips (formerly Volcano) |
| Compatible Guidewire | 0.038 inch |
| Compatible Sheath | 8.5 Fr |
| Delivery Type | OTW: Over The Wire |
| Scanning Method | Electronic (Phased-array IVUS Catheter) |
| Frequency | 10 MHz |
| Imaging Range | 20–60 mm |
| Usable Length | 900 mm |
| Tip Entry Profile | 0.055 inch |
| Shaft Max Outer Diameter | Transducer section: 8.2 Fr |
| Distance from Tip to Transducer | 4 mm |
| Compatible Consoles | S5 / CORE series / IntraSight |
Boston Scientific OptiCross 18 IVUS Catheter – Specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product Name | OptiCross 18 |
| Manufacturer | Boston Scientific |
| Compatible Guidewire | 0.018 inch |
| Compatible Sheath | 5 Fr (requires 6 Fr or larger guiding catheter) |
| Delivery Type | RX: Rapid Exchange (Monorail) |
| Scanning Method | Mechanical (Rotational IVUS Catheter) |
| Frequency | 30 MHz |
| Maximum Imaging Range | 12 mm |
| Usable Length | 1350 mm |
| Guidewire Lumen Length | 16 mm |
| Tip Entry Profile | 0.021 inch |
| Shaft Max Outer Diameter | Catheter shaft: 3.6 Fr |
| Distance from Tip to Transducer | 20 mm |
| Compatible Consoles | iLab / Polaris / AVVIGO |
Conclusion
In this article, we introduced several IVUS catheters suitable for peripheral interventions, particularly EVT and stent graft procedures. Each product—Philips VISIONS PV.018, VISIONS PV.018 OTW, VISIONS PV.035 OTW, and Boston Scientific OptiCross 18—offers unique features in terms of wire compatibility, imaging range, and delivery system.
Choosing the right IVUS catheter based on the vessel size, anatomy, and treatment goal can significantly improve both procedural safety and imaging accuracy. We hope this comparison helps you find the optimal tool for your next case.
☑️Category List
コメント