Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
An epidural catheter is a thin, flexible tube used to deliver local anesthetic for continuous regional anesthesia. In US regulation it is not filed under “epidural catheter” at all: it sits under the FDA name “Catheter, Percutaneous, Intraspinal, Short Term” (product code MAJ), a Class II device. Who uses it: anesthesiology teams; buyers and clinic staff who need to recognise the product, its parts and its regulatory identity.
What an epidural catheter is
The FDA’s regulation 21 CFR 868.5120 defines an anesthesia conduction catheter as “a flexible tubular device used to inject local anesthetics into a patient and to provide continuous regional anesthesia.” An epidural catheter is the form of this device placed for epidural use. It is a separate product from the needle used to introduce it; see what an epidural needle looks like.
How it is built
Construction varies by manufacturer. As one worked example, the Vygon Peripur range (manufacturer’s product page, checked 2026-10-30) lists these features:
- Transparent polyurethane tube with a radiopaque line, so the catheter can be seen on imaging.
- Flexible tubing with no stylet.
- Centimetre graduations from 5 to 20 cm measured from the distal tip.
- A black mark at the distal end, provided to confirm that the catheter has been removed completely.
- An “Easy-lock” type proximal connector and a smoothed distal end.
Other manufacturers use other materials and constructions, so treat this as one range, not a definition of the whole class.
Types: open tip versus closed tip
The Vygon Peripur range illustrates the main tip distinction.
| Type | Distal end | Example code (Vygon Peripur) |
|---|---|---|
| Open tip | Open distal end | 186.10 |
| Closed tip with lateral eyes | Closed end with 3 lateral eyes (side openings) | 186.30 |
Source: Vygon, Peripur epidural catheters product page, checked 2026-10-30.
Specifications from one manufacturer
| Specification | Vygon Peripur value |
|---|---|
| Length | 90 cm |
| Dimensions | 0.5 x 1.0 mm (19G) |
| Material | Transparent polyurethane with radiopaque line |
| Graduations | 5 to 20 cm from the distal tip |
These values apply to this range only and should not be read as typical for every epidural catheter. Always check the specification in the manufacturer’s instructions for use for the exact product.
FDA classification and how to search for it
| Field | openFDA value (product code MAJ) |
|---|---|
| Device name | Catheter, Percutaneous, Intraspinal, Short Term |
| Regulation | 21 CFR 868.5120 |
| Device class | 2 |
| Review panel / specialty | HO / Anesthesiology |
| Implant | No |
| Life-sustaining or life-supporting | No |
Source: openFDA device classification API, data last updated 2026-10-19, checked 2026-10-30; 21 CFR 868.5120 via Cornell LII, checked 2026-10-30. Because the FDA name differs from the everyday term, searching FDA or GUDID records for “intraspinal catheter” or product code MAJ is more reliable than searching “epidural catheter”.
Safe use and handling basics
Placement, management and removal are clinical tasks done by trained staff under the product’s instructions for use; this page does not describe them. Two product features are worth recognising: the graduation marks and the distal black mark, and securement devices such as the StatLock. For supplies that sit around this device, see the pain management clinic supply checklist and the guide to the infusion set.
Common mistakes
- Treating the catheter and the needle as one product. The needle introduces the catheter, and each is specified on its own.
- Searching regulatory databases only for “epidural catheter” and missing records filed as intraspinal catheters.
- Applying one manufacturer’s length or gauge to the whole class.
Related supplies are available in the epidural needles category.
FAQ
What is an epidural catheter?
A flexible tubular device used to inject local anesthetics and provide continuous regional anesthesia, as defined in 21 CFR 868.5120.
What is the FDA class of an epidural catheter?
Class II. openFDA lists product code MAJ, “Catheter, Percutaneous, Intraspinal, Short Term”, under regulation 21 CFR 868.5120, with specialty Anesthesiology.
What is the difference between open-tip and closed-tip catheters?
In the Vygon Peripur range, the open-tip version (186.10) has an open distal end and the closed-tip version (186.30) has a closed end with 3 lateral eyes.
Is an epidural catheter the same as an epidural needle?
No. The needle introduces the catheter and each is a separate product specified on its own.
Sources
- 21 CFR 868.5120, Anesthesia conduction catheter, https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/868.5120, checked 2026-10-30.
- openFDA device classification, product code MAJ, https://api.fda.gov/device/classification.json?search=product_code:MAJ, checked 2026-10-30.
- Vygon, Peripur epidural catheters, https://www.vygon.com/en/products/nervous/standard-luer-range/epidural-anaesthesia-needles-and-catheters/catheters-peripur, checked 2026-10-30.
- Vygon, Tuohy needles, https://www.vygon.com/en/products/nervous/standard-luer-range/epidural-anaesthesia-needles-and-catheters/needles-tuohy, checked 2026-10-30.
