Source: Avinger, Inc.
Three patients successfully treated using next generation image-guided atherectomy device with enhanced tissue removal capacity for treatment of peripheral artery disease
Avinger, Inc. (Nasdaq:AVGR),
a leading developer of innovative treatments for peripheral artery
disease (PAD), today announced that Arne Schwindt, M.D., a vascular
surgeon at St. Franziskus Hospital in Münster, Germany, successfully
treated the first three patients with the extended nosecone version of
the next generation Pantheris Lumivascular atherectomy system (A400EX).
This product is a line extension of the existing next generation
platform, with a longer nosecone that enhances the plaque removal
capacity of the device in addition to the feature improvements of the
next generation of devices. This new device qualifies for commercial
sale in the European Union (EU) under the existing CE Marking for
Pantheris.
Dr. Schwindt noted, “Despite the difficult nature of these particular interventions, I was able to safely and effectively achieve positive outcomes for these patients using the new version of Pantheris with the extended nosecone. I am excited to continue to use this technology in lesions with higher plaque burden, and continue to see the added benefit of the design improvements incorporated into the next generation Pantheris platform.”
“We appreciate Dr. Schwindt’s continued partnership with us in our objective to improve physician user experience with our technology while continuing to generate positive patient outcomes,” said Jeff Soinski, Avinger’s president and CEO. “Dr. Schwindt’s feedback will continue to be invaluable as we launch our Pantheris next generation platform in additional sites both in the EU and in the US, once we receive FDA 510(k) clearance.”
Atherectomy is a minimally invasive treatment for PAD in which a catheter-based device is used to remove plaque from a blood vessel. Lumivascular technology allows physicians, for the first time ever, to see from inside the artery during an atherectomy procedure by using an imaging modality called optical coherence tomography, or OCT, that is displayed on Avinger’s proprietary Lightbox console. Physicians performing atherectomy with other devices must rely solely on X-ray as well as tactile feedback to guide their interventions while treating complicated arterial disease. With the Lumivascular approach, physicians can more accurately navigate their devices and treat PAD lesions, thanks to the real-time OCT images generated from inside the artery, without exposing healthcare workers and patients to the negative effects of ionizing radiation.
About Avinger, Inc.Avinger is a commercial-stage medical device company that designs and develops the first-ever image-guided, catheter-based system that diagnoses and treats patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Avinger is dedicated to radically changing the way vascular disease is treated through its Lumivascular platform, which currently consists of the Lightbox imaging console, the Ocelot family of chronic total occlusion (CTO) catheters, and the Pantheris® family of atherectomy devices. Avinger is based in Redwood City, California. For more information, please visit www.avinger.com.