PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a microcatheter capable of improving operability, transmitting not a uniform force like the conventional manner but different forces in circumferential positions, operating a distal end with directivity, and having further improved operability.SOLUTION: The microcatheter is characterized in that a second formation material is disposed on a first formation material that consists of a formation material capable of forming an outer layer, into a stripe-like shape extending in the length direction of the outer layer material, where respective area ratios of the two formation materials occupying a circumferential cross section of the first formation material and the second formation material are changed along the length direction, so that a hardness transition part in which hardness of the outer layer is increasingly changed from a distal end toward a proximal end along the length direction, is formed at the length-direction whole part or a part of the outer layer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3【課題】 操作性を向上させることができると共に、従来のような均一の力の伝搬ではなく周方向の位置で異なる力の伝達が可能になり、遠位端を方向性を持って操作させることができ、操作性が更に向上したマイクロカテーテルを提供することにある。【解決手段】 外層を形成可能な形成材料からなる第１の形成材料に、第２の形成材料が外層の長さ方向に伸びるストライプ状に配置され、第１の形成材料と第２の形成材料との周方向の断面に占める２つの形成材料のそれぞれの面積比が長さ方向に沿って変化することで、外層の硬度が長さ方向に沿って遠位端から近位端に向かって増すように変化する硬度遷移部を、外層の長さ方向の全部又は一部に有することを特徴とする。【選択図】図３
