CathRAD® is the first commercially available software to predict and analyze the visibility of catheter marker bands under fluoroscopy.
- Fluoroscopy is an imaging technique that uses X-rays to obtain real-time moving images of the internal structures of a patient through the use of a fluoroscope.
- Radiopaque marker bands are thin-walled metal tubes placed at strategic locations on a catheter for visibility under fluoroscopy and are typically made from a high density metal such as platinum, gold, or tantalum.
- Doped extrusions formulations including Barium Sulfate, Bismuth Subcarbonate, Bismuth Oxychloride, Bismuth Trioxide, and Tungsten.
CathRAD® will allow you to understand and quantify the effects of marker band material, geometry, and part tolerances on the visibility of the marker band and extrusions in the catheter design.
![CathRAD® Process Flow: CathRAD® computes an RP Index for a particular design configuration. The results are exported to MS Excel by selecting the EXPORT button.](https://www.cathrad.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/2013.11.12-CathRAD-Flowchart.jpg)
CathRAD® Process Flow: CathRAD® computes an RP Index for a particular design configuration. The results are exported to MS Excel by selecting the EXPORT button.
RP INDEX
The CathRAD® software computes a radiopaque index (RP INDEX) based on the following design inputs:
- Marker Band Material
- Material Loading (0 to 100 percent) for applicable materials
- Geometry
- Part Tolerances
Since the marker band has variations from part to part due to manufacturing tolerances, the software uses a built-in Monte Carlo Simulation Engine to compute the marker band’s mean, standard deviation, and min/max RP INDEX visibility. The resulting data is seamlessly exported to MS Excel in both numeric and graphical formats.