Atherectomy Drill Clears Clogged Vasculature of Thrombi and Deposits

An innovative vascular drill for percutaneous revascularization of clogged blood vessels treats the entire spectrum of disease found in the peripheral artery disease (PAD) patient.

The Jetstream G2 NXT drill consists of a sterile, single-use catheter and control pod and a reusable, compact console that mounts to a standard intravenous (IV) stand. An expandable cutting tip safely debulks and preemptively removes both hard and soft plaque, as well as calcium, thrombus, and fibrotic lesions. A highly efficient aspiration port located proximally to the cutting blades continually removes excised tissue and thrombus from the treatment site to a collection bag located on the console. A fully recessed masticating system within the aspiration port helps break the aspirated material into smaller pieces before removal, providing significant benefits for the treating physician and patient, while ensuring no contact with the artery walls. The distal portion of the catheter also possesses infusion ports that provide continuous sterile saline during the atherectomy procedure; an active aspiration safety feature minimizes the risk of distal embolization.


The Jetstream G2 NXT vascular drill is a product of Pathway Medical Technologies (Kirkland, WA, USA), and has been received both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Community (CE) marking of approval. The system is intended for use in atherectomy in upper and lower extremity peripheral arteries over 3 mm in diameter; it is not intended for use in coronary, carotid, iliac, or renal vasculature.

"CE marking is an important achievement for Pathway as we look forward to entering the European market and making a significant impact on a new marketplace,” said Paul Buckman, CEO and President of Pathway Medical Technologies. "We are excited about the opportunity to provide a new physician population with the latest PAD innovation and expanding on our promise to deliver the most effective, minimally invasive treatment for a condition that affects more than 27 million people in Europe and North America.”

Percutaneous revascularization is becoming a viable alternative to surgery in the treatment of PAD. A variety of methods employed to restore circulation to the lower extremities, such as balloon angioplasty, stents, laser atherectomy, and plaque excision.

The advantages of percutaneous techniques include less procedure time, ease of use, faster patient recovery, decreased systemic complications, repeatability in light of new occlusions and hope for nonsurgical candidates.

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Pathway Medical Technologies