Table 1.

Standard microcatheters in use.

	Finecross (Terumo)	Supercross (Vascular perspectives)	Valet (Volcano)	Corsair (Asahi)	Tornus (Asahi)
Composition/design	-Stainless steel braid structure -Hydrophilic coating for distal 60cm -PTFE inner layer	-Stainless steel braid structure -Hydrophilic coating for distal 40cm -PTFE inner layer -45°, 90°, 120° angled tip versions	-Stainless steel braid structure with variable metal wind thickness and powder plastic coating -Hydrophilic coating distal 30cm -Shapeable distal tip	-Tungsten braiding with 10 elliptical steel braids -Soft, tapered tip -Hydrophilic polymer coating for distal 60cm -Inner polymer lumen	-Eight individual stainless steel wires, braided with a left-handed thread
Diameter/ length	-Tapers from 2.6Fr to 1.8Fr over entire catheter -Available 130 and 150cm length	-Tapers from 2.5Fr to 1.8Fr -Available 130 and 150cm length	-Available 2 diameters (1.8Fr and 3.5Fr) - Available 130 and 150cm length	-2.8Fr with tapered distal tip (0.016 inch) -Available 135 (antegrade) and 150cm (retrograde) length	-Available in two sizes: Tornus (2.1Fr and 2.6Fr) -135cm length
Instructions for use	-Rotation in either direction facilitates forward motion	-Rotation in either direction facilitates forward motion	-Rotation in either direction facilitates forward motion	-Rapid rotation in either direction enhances forward motion	-Rotated into lesion counter-clockwise (maximum 20 turns in one go) and withdrawn clockwise -Should not be flushed (porous design and can splay wires)
Indication	-Provision of support for guidewire crossing	-Provision of support for guidewire crossing	-Provision of support for guidewire crossing	-Provision of support for guidewire crossing -Collateral channel crossing (especially retrograde)	-Highly supportive catheter -Allows balloon tracking (once distal wire position achieved when other microcatheters or OTW balloons will not cross) or affords rotawire exchange and therefore useful combination with rotablation