Turbo Catheter Treats Total Occlusions

A new turbo catheter is designed to treat total occlusions in the superficial femoral artery (SFA). The catheter has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The 2.5 turbo catheter is the latest in the CLiRpath line of proprietary excimer laser catheters, ranging in diameter from 0.9 mm to 2.5 mm. This new laser features several design enhancements. These include an increased number of laser fibers, which create 30% more energy and 60% faster penetration rate to ablate larger lumens in the SFA and popliteal arteries; a continuous lasing train that will enable shorter procedure times and reduce radiation exposure; and a hydrophilic coating to allow for smoother advancement through tight lesions and an easier transition over the aortic bifurcation.

Many patients suffering from peripheral vascular disease and critical limb ischemia have total occlusions that cannot be crossed with standard guide wires, and have so few treatment options that surgery--either bypass or limb amputation--is nearly inevitable. CLiRpath provides an alternative to amputation for these patients.

"Our top priority is to further penetrate the critical limb ischemia market through enhancements to our current products focusing on long total occlusions in the SFA and below-the-knee applications, and also to expand our presence in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease with catheters that will generate larger lumens in the upper leg or the superficial femoral artery,” said John G. Schulte, president and CEO of Spectranetics (Colorado Springs, CO, USA), which developed the new turbo catheter.





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