Inferior Vena Cava Catheter (via laparotomy, PE20 50mm, PE10 40mm, Silastic 0.025" OD 80mm)

Description

This product is a specialized catheter assembly intended for chronic implantation in laboratory rats for physiological research. The design allows for surgical placement into the inferior vena cava via a laparotomy procedure. The catheter construction utilizes Silastic tubing with a 0.025-inch outer diameter over an 80mm length, connected to segments of polyethylene tubing (PE20, 50mm and PE10, 40mm). Its primary use is to enable repeated vascular access in conscious, freely moving animals. This chronic preparation avoids the confounding physiological effects associated with acute surgery, anesthesia, or physical restraint during experiments. It permits the administration of test substances directly into the systemic circulation or other target sites, supporting longitudinal studies in pharmacology and physiology where minimal stress to the animal is required.