BrightWater Medical, a company based in Murrieta, California, won FDA clearance to introduce in the U.S. its ConvertX nephroureteral catheter and stent system for use in treating ureteral obstructions in patients that require perc nephrostomy tubes. The system is intended to be used by interventional radiologists and removes a separate minimally invasive procedure that is required with current treatment.
Right now, a nephrostomy catheter is first placed to drain urine into a bag. The patient comes back a few days later to have the catheter removed and a stent placed. The ConvertX is designed to have the stent delivered during catheter placement and expanded once drainage is complete. The catheter essentially transforms into a stent in a quick follow up procedure without needing fluoroscopy or sedating the patient. Once finalized, the stent works like other existing ureteral stents.
“Ureteral blockages due to kidney stones, tumors or scarring from previous surgeries must be treated quickly so urine can be voided,” explained Bob Smouse, M.D., founder and CEO of BrightWater Medical and Professor of Radiology & Surgery at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, in a statement. “The ConvertX System saves the patient the risk and discomfort of an additional second interventional procedure and may reduce healthcare costs, free up the hospital’s angio suite for other procedures and save the IR procedural time that can be devoted to care of other patients.”
Product page with video showing delivery and placement: ConvertX Stent…
Via: BrightWater Medical…