Sterling SL PTA Balloon Dilatation Catheter
The Sterling SL balloon catheter (Boston Scientific Corporation, Natick, MA) is a highperformance, low-profile, 0.014- and 0.018- inch wire-compatible balloon. According to the company, the Sterling SL balloon catheter was developed specifically to address physicians' needs in treating infrapopliteal arteries through a low lesion entry profile with excellent deliverability and a fast deflation time. It is available in 2- to 4-mm diameters and lengths of 80 to 150 mm on 90- and 150-cm shafts. All sizes are available in both over-the-wire and rapid-exchange platforms. “The introduction of the Sterling SL balloon catheter will provide the length options I need to address below-the-knee procedures for patients with peripheral artery disease,” said Kenneth Kollmeyer, MD, FACS, of the DFW Vascular Group and Chief of Vascular Surgery at Methodist Dallas Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. “The product offers the same excellent performance I have come to expect from the Sterling family of balloons and provides a welcome treatment option for physicians and their patients.”

Ultraverse 014 and 018 PTA Dilatation Catheters
The Ultraverse 014 and Ultraverse 018 PTA dilatation catheters (Bard Peripheral Vascular, Tempe, AZ) have recently received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. The catheters feature advanced balloon technologies, including the proprietary Ultra-Cross duallayer hydrophilic coating and Checker flex points for excellent trackability in distal peripheral anatomies, the company stated. Their innovative, reinforced inner lumen promotes superior pushability versus competitive overthe- wire balloons for crossing tight lesions. The Ultraverse 014 and Ultraverse 018 PTA dilatation catheters also offer the broadest size matrix available, with lengths up to 220 mm and diameters ranging from 1.5 to 5 mm on the Ultraverse 014 catheter and 2 to 9 mm on the Ultraverse 018 catheter.

Cleaner Rotational Thrombectomy System
Argon Medical Devices, Inc. (Athens, TX) recently announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration for the Cleaner rotational thrombectomy system (designed by Rex Medical [Conshohocken, PA]). Cleaner technology is an ergonomically designed, percutaneous 6-F catheterbased system (single-piece construction) that is compatible with a 6-F introducer sheath. A disposable, battery-operated handheld drive unit is attached to a wire and rotates at a low speed (4,000 rpm). The distal, sinuous-shaped tip of the wire facilitates atraumatic mechanical declotting of occluded native vessel fistulae and synthetic dialysis access grafts. The outer catheter distal tip and sinuous wire segment are both radiopaque for fluoroscopic visualization. According to the company, Cleaner technology provides the physician base with superior trackability and steerability; this quiet and easy-to-use system has the ability to effectively operate, negotiate, and macerate thrombus around the graft apex and opposing sheath.

Fluent Transitionless Micro-Introducer
Galt Medical Corp. (Garland, TX), one of the premier providers of 0.018-inch microaccess products, recently introduced the Fluent Transitionless Micro-Introducer (TMI). According to the company, the Fluent TMI is designed for ease of access, with redesigned angles and silicone coating. It is available in regular and stiff cannula configurations in an all-inclusive package.