Kitazato RYDEN™ ET Catheter: Precision and Control Redefining Embryo Transfer

Embryo transfer is the most delicate step in the IVF journey. You get one chance to deliver the embryo into the uterine cavity with maximum precision, minimum trauma, and full confidence in what you see on ultrasound. The RYDEN™ ET catheter has been engineered to give you that level of control, clarity, and predictability on every case.

Elevate your embryo transfer technology

Embryo Transfer (ET) is universally recognised as the final, and most crucial, step in the in vitro fertilisation (IVF) process. For successful outcomes, the embryo must be placed in the optimal zone of the uterine cavity without provoking trauma or contractions.

The RYDEN™ ET catheter is Kitazato’s latest evolution in precurved ET catheter systems. Developed in close collaboration with IVF clinicians, it addresses the two biggest demands in reproductive medicine today: operational control and superior visualization under ultrasound. Intended for ultrasound-guided introduction of embryos, this echogenic ET catheter supports precise navigation and placement in even the most challenging cases.

RYDEN™ is more than a device. It is a supported and fully echogenic solution that redefines embryo transfer technology and helps clinics standardise procedures for consistently successful outcomes.

The hybrid advantage: control without trauma

Historically, clinics have had to choose:

• Soft ET catheter for minimal trauma but poorer control and higher risk of technical failure.
• Stiffer catheter for better navigation and rigidity but greater risk of endometrial irritation.

The RYDEN™ catheter breaks this compromise. Its hybrid design combines structural metallic support with a highly atraumatic profile, so you no longer have to trade safety for control.

By integrating metallic support for enhanced control into the outer structure, the RYDEN™ catheter gives the operator a predictable feel in the hand while preserving a gentle, patient-friendly tip. This balance is what allows clinicians to maintain consistency, protect the implantation environment, and move toward more reliable, clinic-wide successful outcomes.

Metallic support for enhanced control and precise navigation

The RYDEN™ system incorporates an outer metallic support for enhanced control, giving the ET catheter the ideal degree of rigidity without sacrificing sensitivity.

• How it works:
  A dedicated metallic support layer runs along the guide, providing superior rigidity and control for precise catheter manipulation.
• Why it matters clinically:
  This structure ensures predictable navigation through complex or constricted cervical anatomy, reducing technical failures, the need for catheter exchange, and procedure time.

In practice, this means the physician can steer the catheter with more precision, particularly in difficult anatomy, while maintaining a smooth trajectory into the uterine cavity. The end result is a more controlled embryo transfer that supports your best possible implantation rates.

Fully echogenic design for unmatched clarity under ultrasound

RYDEN™ features a fully echogenic design: the guide, guide tip, and inner catheter are all designed to be fully echogenic. This provides truly superior visualisation on ultrasound from the moment the catheter enters the cervix to the final deposition of the embryo-containing droplet.

This high level of echogenicity delivers a new level of clarity:

• You can continuously track catheter alignment and depth.
• You can confirm the droplet position precisely 6–10 mm from the fundus.
• You can reliably avoid fundal contact, which is known to be associated with lower clinical pregnancy rates.

With this fully echogenic ET catheter, clinicians gain real-time feedback that directly supports more precise, controlled, and reproducible embryo transfer procedures.

Atraumatic guide with bulb tip: protecting the implantation environment

In embryo transfer, the way you enter the cervix can be as important as where you finish. RYDEN™ incorporates an atraumatic guide with a soft bulb tip and echogenic ring to support gentle, safe passage.

This atraumatic bulb tip is specifically designed to reduce contact trauma that may trigger uterine contractions or disturb the endometrium. When combined with the system’s metallic support and precise navigation, the guide helps transform difficult transfers into smooth, low-stress procedures for both clinician and patient.

For clinics focused on patient comfort and careful protection of the implantation environment, this combination of atraumatic characteristics and high-end embryo transfer technology is a significant advantage.

Precurved guide with memory for individual anatomy

Every patient’s cervical and uterine anatomy is unique. RYDEN™ addresses this reality with a precurved guide that includes a guide with memory feature.

The precurved design allows the clinician to customise the curvature to suit individual anatomy without losing that shape during insertion. This:

• Reduces the need for forceful manipulation.
• Minimises friction within the cervical canal.
• Supports smooth, precise advancement into the uterine cavity.

Because the precurved structure and guide with memory work together, the catheter follows a predictable path, letting the operator focus on precise placement rather than fighting the device.

Ergonomic workflow: preloaded catheter into the guide

RYDEN™ has been designed not only for clinical performance, but also for a clean, efficient lab workflow. The handle includes a large, user-friendly opening that simplifies handling and loading.

The system is delivered as a preloaded catheter into the guide, meaning the inner catheter is ready for use directly in the sterile pack. This reduces the number of steps needed during preparation and helps minimise contamination risk at setup.

For busy IVF laboratories, this ergonomically optimised workflow translates into:

• Faster preparation time.
• Fewer handling errors.
• A more standardised process across the team.

Optimised placement for maximal implantation potential

The final position of the transferred air bubble is recognised as an independent predictor of the clinical pregnancy rate. With RYDEN™, fully echogenic design and superior visualization make it straightforward to confirm exact positioning.

Under ultrasound guidance, the operator can:

• Track the catheter’s course through the uterine cavity.
• Visually confirm the embryo-containing micro-droplet is deposited in the optimal zone.
• Avoid trauma and fundal contact that may compromise implantation.

This meticulous, precise approach protects the implantation environment from mechanical insult and supports the lab’s goal of maximising implantation and ongoing pregnancy rates in every embryo transfer.

Built on Kitazato IVF quality and innovation

The RYDEN™ catheter is part of the proven Kitazato IVF portfolio of embryo transfer and insemination catheters. Kitazato is recognised worldwide for high quality standards in reproductive medicine and for its commitment to continuous innovation.

Kitazato offers advanced ET catheter systems built for consistency and safety. In fact, Kitazato offers a wide variety of solutions designed to support a wide variety of embryo transfer protocols, from straightforward cases to technically challenging procedures. This allows clinics to match the right ET catheter to the right clinical scenario, without sacrificing quality or control.

When you choose RYDEN™, you are choosing a device that sits within a mature, trusted ecosystem of embryo transfer technology developed specifically for demanding IVF programmes.

 

Technical specifications and ordering information

The RYDEN™ ET catheter is a sterile, single-use ET catheter system with CE Mark certification, manufactured to international standards of quality and safety.

All configurations share a consistent 3 Fr diameter for an atraumatic insertion profile and reliable handling characteristics:

Configuration options

• Standard Kit with Guide, 22 cm, 3 Fr – Echogenic supported catheter with guide (Order No: 213312)
• Standard Kit with Guide, 25 cm, 3 Fr – Echogenic supported catheter with guide (Order No: 213355)
• Kit with Guide and Obturator, 22 cm, 3 Fr – Echogenic supported catheter and guide with obturator (Order No: 223312)
• Kit with Guide and Obturator, 25 cm, 3 Fr – Echogenic supported catheter and guide with obturator (Order No: 223355)
• Stylet Accessory 22 cm – Soft stylet for guide (Order No: 244017)
• Stylet Accessory 25 cm – Soft stylet for guide (Order No: 244020)

These configurations give your clinic the flexibility to integrate RYDEN™ into both single-step and double-step embryo transfer protocols while maintaining the same core performance characteristics.

Why choose the RYDEN™ catheter for your clinic?

By combining metallic support, fully echogenic design and an atraumatic, precurved guide, the RYDEN™ catheter gives your team a genuinely modern embryo transfer technology platform:

• Control and precision
  Metallic support and optimised rigidity enable precise steering, predictable navigation, and consistent placement in the optimal zone.
• Clarity under ultrasound
  A fully echogenic design provides superior visualization of both guide and inner catheter throughout the procedure.
• Comfort and safety
  Atraumatic bulb tip, gentle profile, and controlled passage help protect the endometrium and reduce contraction risk.
• Efficient workflow
  Preloaded catheter into the guide and ergonomic handle support smooth laboratory practice and minimise handling errors.

For IVF programmes seeking to standardise embryo transfer, reduce technical failures, and push for the highest possible implantation rates, the RYDEN™ catheter offers a truly supported and fully echogenic solution.

 

Ready to advance your IVF outcomes?

Put RYDEN™ at the centre of your embryo transfer strategy and give your team the tools they need to deliver consistently successful outcomes.

Download the informational flyer
View the full technical specifications and configuration matrix for the RYDEN™ ET catheter.