Pathway Medical Technologies, Inc., introduced the 7 French compatible version of its peripheral atherectomy catheter. Jetstream G2™ NXT is based on the company’s state-of-the-art catheter technology capable of treating the entire spectrum of disease found in patients suffering from PAD, including hard and soft plaque, calcium, fibrotic lesions and thrombus. 7 French compatibility allows physicians to use Jetstream G2 NXT in the treatment of PAD in a more diverse patient population, significantly expanding the number of patients who can now benefit from this innovative technology.
Approximately 12 million Americans suffer from the effects of PAD and many in this rapidly expanding patient population go undiagnosed. Commonly associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and aging, PAD causes a build-up of plaque within the arteries that limits blood flow to the extremities. PAD can lead to severe limb pain, non-healing ulcers and critical limb ischemia and, if left untreated, can lead to gangrene, amputation and even death. The most common intervention for PAD has historically included highly-invasive procedures, including bypass surgery. Unfortunately, many patients are poor surgical candidates for whom surgery can be life threatening. Atherectomy—the removal of the blockage by inserting a specialized catheter into the artery to remove the fatty buildup from the artery walls—has proven to be an effective, first-line option in minimally invasive PAD intervention.
Dr. Robert Bersin at Seattle Cardiology said, The 7 French compatible Jetstream G2 NXT is nearly identical to Jetstream G2, but has the advantages associated with smaller sheath technology. As such, it expands my ability to treat more anatomies and patients with varying degrees of PAD.