Hotspur Technologies (Mountain View, CA) has announced CE Mark approval of its IQCath Balloon Dilatation Catheter to treat blocked artificial vascular access vessels in dialysis patients. Normally, when patients with obstructed AV fistulas and such undergo a revascularization procedure, vascular surgeons need to use different devices to perform embolectomy, and/or angioplasty, or to deliver contrast agents. The IQCath can perform all three of these functions without requiring the use of multiple catheters, which the company claims will reduce procedure time and cost.
From the press release:
The IQCath catheter is indicated for use within synthetic dialysis access grafts to remove embolic material and to dilate obstructive blockages. Based on the use of Hotspur’s proprietary VisioValve™ technology, the IQCath catheter enables these functions to be performed with a single catheter, allowing a physician to perform balloon angioplasty, fluid injection, and thrombectomy while maintaining guidewire position. The ability to perform all three of these functions without removing the catheter can potentially enable use of a single Hotspur device to complete an entire procedure.
Press release: Approval Allows Patients Outside US to Benefit from Multi-Functional Device…
Product page: The IQCath™ Balloon Dilatation Catheter…