Novel 3-in-1 Angioplasty Balloon Improves Treatment Efficiency

A new balloon dilatation catheter enables the concomitant performance of three complex vascular procedures using a single catheter, potentially reducing procedure time, and expense for both patients and medical professionals.

The IQCath balloon dilatation catheter is a specialty three-in-one device that allows the physician to perform angioplasty, deliver targeted contrast, and perform thrombectomy without exchanging catheters or losing guidewire position. The three-in-one device includes an angioplasty balloon, embolectomy coil, and proprietary VisioValve injection technology, which allows physicians to inject specified fluids through a valve located on the proximal end of the balloon. By integrating the balloon and injection ability, patients may be out of the hospital or dialysis access center faster, while physicians are able to perform cases expediently; in comparison, these types of medical procedures typically involve the use multiple catheters to open the blood vessels. The IQCath balloon dilatation catheter is a product of Hotspur Technologies' (Mountain View, CA, USA), and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).


In addition to the IQCath, Hotspur has also gained FDA clearance for two additional innovative balloon technologies; The GPSCath Balloon Dilatation Catheter follows the lead of the IQCath Balloon Dilatation Catheter as a specialty two-in-one device that allows the physician to conduct angioplasty and inject fluid while maintaining guidewire position. The Keeper Embolectomy Catheter is another two-in-one device, which integrates an embolectomy balloon with the ability to inject physician-specified fluids while maintaining guidewire position.

"The IQCath brings much needed efficiency and innovation to dialysis graft revascularization procedures. The ability to perform balloon angioplasty, embolectomy, local drug delivery, and angiography with a single device should shorten procedure times, as well as reduce radiation exposure to both the operator and patients,” said Guy Mayeda ,MD, an interventional cardiologist at Good Samaritan Hospital (Los Angeles, CA, USA), who performed the first commercial deployment of the device.

Vascular balloon dilatation, also known as angioplasty, is a common medical procedure utilizing a catheter with a dilatation balloon in an attempt to dilate stenotic vessels, commonly followed by stenting of the vessel to reduce the rate of restenosis. The angioplasty balloon is inflated within the stenosed region to apply radial pressure on the vascular wall, and thus widen the lumen, improve blood flow and deploy a stent if needed.

Related Links:
Hotspur Technologies
Good Samaritan Hospital