Guidewire for Embolization of Fibroid Tumors

A new guidewire facilitates the placement of catheters within the peripheral vasculature for various interventional procedures, including both uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) and embolization of hypervascularized tumors, such as liver tumors.

Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a procedure for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids, masses of fibrous and muscle tissue in the uterine wall which are benign, but which may cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pain in the pelvic region, or pressure on the bladder or bowel. A catheter is placed in each of the two uterine arteries and small particles are injected to block the arterial branches that supply blood to the fibroids. The fibroid tissue dies, the masses shrink, and in most cases symptoms are relieved.

The new Sequitor guidewire was developed by BioSphere Medical (Rockland, MA, USA). It offers a durable atraumatic polymer tip that reduces the risk of vascular spasm but retains its shape for selective vessel access; a highly visible distal segment, comprised of a radiopaque coil and polymer jacket, which provides visibility under live imaging; a specially tempered wire core designed to transmit one-to-one torque response without kinking; and the Passthru lubricious, hydrophilic coating that facilitates wire trackability. The guidewire has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"The introduction of Sequitor is a next step toward our goal to optimize BioSphere delivery systems products for peripheral embolization procedures,” said Richard Faleschini, president and CEO of BioSphere Medical.



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