Intravascular lithotripsy catheter to treat calcified peripheral lesions launched
Shockwave Medical announced that its intravascular lithotripsy catheter for treatment of calcified peripheral artery lesions has been launched commercially in the United States.
The device (Shockwave L6) received clearance from the FDA in August 2022, according to the company.
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The peripheral intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) catheter is designed to modify calcification in lesions in large peripheral vessels, the company stated in a press release.
The device has a compact emitter configuration to enable effective delivery of sonic pressure waves in larger vessels and comes in four sizes (8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm and 12 mm), according to the release.
“The Shockwave L6 catheter pushes the boundaries of what IVL can help physicians achieve for patients with severe peripheral arterial disease,” Frank Arko, MD, chief of vascular and endovascular surgery at Carolinas Medical Center, Sanger Heart and Vascular Institute, said in the release. “The characteristics of the new catheter allow physicians to optimize IVL therapy in large peripheral vessels, which represent over 20% of peripheral interventions performed in the U.S. each year. The Shockwave L6 catheter may also be beneficial when IVL is utilized to facilitate transfemoral access for large-bore procedures like [transcatheter aortic valve replacement, thoracic endovascular aortic repair and endovascular aneurysm repair] to minimize the risks of rupture and dissection.”
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