March 19, 2013 — Terumo Interventional Systems expanded its family of Heartrail III Coronary Guiding Catheters to include a smaller profile 5 French Ikari shape, specifically designed to provide backup support and access to target coronary lesions during transradial catheterizations. The smaller 5 French Heartrail is designed to help physicians achieve access to the coronary arteries using a smaller-diameter catheter platform, and proprietary Ikari tip shapes, while providing the backup support and body of a traditionally larger French size catheter.
The smaller size enhances the Heartrail III guiding catheter portfolio by providing various options in response to guide catheter support needs during transradial catheterizations. Benefits include:
- Proprietary outer surface treatment, to reduce friction between the catheter and inner lumen of the artery.
- Flexible shaft design, for optimal trackability, even in tortuous vessels.
- Efficient torque control, providing smooth handling and accurate engagement of the artery.
- High radiopacity, for enhanced visibility that allows accurate tip positioning in the coronary ostium.
- Bigger lumen size, to reduce device friction for ease of device manipulation.
Transradial catheterization is used to gain access to the heart through the arteries of the wrist, rather than the groin. It is the leading access strategy in many countries of the world and while the technique accounts for an estimated 15-20 percent of cases in the United States, there is a growing interest among physicians for more specialized tools that facilitate the procedure.
For more information: www.terumois.com
May 13, 2026 
