Key Benefits
- Pre-made and tested — every catheter is assembled and quality-checked before dispatch, saving surgical preparation time
- Extensive configuration range — over 100 catheter configurations covering all major vascular access sites in mice and rats
- Medical-grade materials — polyurethane and silicone construction for biocompatibility and long-term patency
- Consistent performance — standardised manufacturing reduces variability between animals and improves study reproducibility
Overview
Instech Laboratories manufactures a comprehensive range of pre-made vascular catheters purpose-built for preclinical research in mice and rats. Each catheter is constructed from medical-grade materials and designed for reliable, long-term vascular access.
Mouse catheters are available for carotid, femoral, jugular, and tail vein access. Rat catheters cover jugular vein, femoral vein, femoral artery, carotid artery, bile duct, intrathecal, portal, gastric, and tail vein sites. All catheters are pre-assembled and tested, ready for surgical implantation.
Key Features
- Mouse catheters: carotid artery, femoral artery/vein, jugular vein, tail vein
- Rat catheters: jugular vein, femoral vein, femoral artery, carotid artery, bile duct, intrathecal, portal, gastric, tail vein
- Medical-grade polyurethane and silicone catheter materials
- Pre-assembled with suture beads and strain reliefs for secure implantation
- Compatible with Instech Vascular Access Buttons and tether systems
- Available with or without PinPort connectors
- Micro-renathane (MRE) tubing for smallest mouse vessels
- Sterile packaging available for GLP studies
Typical Applications
- Intravenous drug infusion and continuous dosing
- Serial blood sampling for pharmacokinetic studies
- Bile sampling and bile duct cannulation
- Glucose clamp and metabolic studies
- PK/PD and toxicology research
- Bioanalysis and biomarker sampling
Specifications
| Species | Mice and rats |
|---|---|
| Catheter Materials | Polyurethane (PU), silicone, micro-renathane (MRE) |
| Access Sites (Mouse) | Carotid, femoral, jugular, tail vein |
| Access Sites (Rat) | Jugular, femoral, carotid, bile duct, intrathecal, portal, gastric, tail vein |
| Tubing OD Range | 0.3 mm (1 Fr) to 1.2 mm (4 Fr) |
| Sterilisation | Ethylene oxide (EtO) sterile packaging available |
| Compatibility | Instech VABs, PinPorts, tether systems |
Frequently Asked Questions
What catheter material should I use?
Polyurethane is the most common choice for vascular catheters due to its biocompatibility, kink resistance, and long-term patency. Silicone may be preferred for certain applications. Micro-renathane (MRE) is used for the smallest mouse vessels.
How long can catheters remain patent in vivo?
With proper lock solution maintenance and catheter care, Instech catheters can remain patent for several weeks in rats and up to two weeks in mice, depending on the access site and study conditions.
Can I connect catheters to an infusion pump?
Yes, Instech catheters are compatible with the OrchesTA syringe pump system and other standard infusion pumps via luer connections or PinPort adapters.
Are catheters available in sterile packaging?
Yes, Instech offers ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilised catheters in sealed packaging for GLP and regulatory studies.
What is a dual-channel catheter used for?
Dual-channel catheters allow simultaneous infusion and sampling through a single vascular access site, which is particularly useful for PK/PD studies requiring concurrent dosing and blood collection.