Angled Support Catheter Assists Peripheral Vascular Procedures

A new angled support catheter assists clinicians during endovascular procedures to treat complex peripheral artery disease (PAD).

The Medtronic (Dublin, Ireland) TrailBlazer angled peripheral support catheter is an over-the-wire single lumen seamless catheter designed for high visibility, optimal wire support, and ease of lesion entry for difficult to cross lesions. Thanks to the atraumatic tapered tip, a lubricious inner layer, and CrossCoat hydrophilic coating on the distal 40 cm, TrailBalizer can smoothly track through challenging vasculature. To enhance fluoroscopic visibility, the TrailBlazer .014", .018", and .035" guidewire compatible devices have three embedded radiopaque marker bands and a radiopaque shaft.


The TrailBlazer is designed to not only support a guidewire during access to peripheral arteries, but also to enable delivery of solutions and diagnostic agents. The catheter features a braided stainless steel shaft for robust pushability and kink resistance, and a 25 and 30 degree angled tapered tip to access and cross complex lesions. Both the .014" and .018" TrailBlazer support catheters can fit coaxially through the .035" support catheter for increased reach and higher pushability.

“Medtronic is committed to providing physicians with meaningful innovations and therapy choices to enhance their peripheral treatment algorithm,” said Mark Pacyna, vice president and general manager of the peripheral business at Medtronic. “Working with physicians, we have extended the Medtronic TrailBlazer support catheter portfolio to offer a broad suite of angled options for treatment of complex lesions both above and below the knee.”

PAD is a narrowing of the peripheral arteries due to atherosclerosis, and is most common in the arteries of the pelvis and legs. The most common symptoms of PAD are cramping, pain, or tiredness in the leg or hip muscles while walking or climbing stairs, which is temporarily relieved by rest. PAD sufferers have four to five times more risk of heart attack or stroke, and if left untreated, it can lead to gangrene and amputation.

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