Journey Guidewire
Boston Scientific Corporation (Natick, MA) announced the launch of its Journey guidewire, an innovative 0.014-inch-diameter guidewire designed for use in challenging, small vessel peripheral angioplasty procedures. The Journey guidewire strengthens Boston Scientific's broad portfolio of devices designed to address physician needs in treating arteries below the knee.

It features a new microcut nitinol sleeve designed to provide efficient transmission of torque energy for more precise turn-by-turn response and control compared to conventional spring coil guidewires. The nitinol distal core and hybrid coating are designed to enhance wire durability, tactile response, and device delivery for improved overall performance.

“In my experience, the Journey guidewire provides exceptional torque and flexibility, particularly in difficult cases involving small vessels or tortuous anatomy,” said Dr. James Benenati, Medical Director of the Cardiac and Vascular Institute in Miami and President of the Society of Interventional Radiology. “This highly durable guidewire offers outstanding precision and tracking to help access the toughest peripheral lesions.”

IQCath Balloon Dilatation Catheter
Hotspur Technologies, Inc. (Mountain View, CA) announced that the US FDA granted the company 510(k) clearance to market the IQCath balloon dilatation catheter for use in dialysis applications. The IQCath is a specialty 3-in-1 device that allows physicians to efficiently perform angioplasty, deliver physician-specified fluids, and perform thrombectomy without exchanging catheters or jeopardizing the guidewire position in synthetic arteriovenous fistulae, the company stated. Delivered through a 6- or 7-F sheath, the device uses proprietary and innovative VisioValve technology, located on the distal tip, injecting physician- specified fluids, including contrast and thrombolytics, without removing or moving the guidewire. IQCath's robust balloon design is nominal at 8 atm and has a rated burst pressure of 16 or 20 atmospheres. The three Hotspur products that have received FDA clearance are the IQCath balloon dilatation catheter, GPSCath balloon dilatation catheter, and Keeper embolectomy catheter. They are expected to be commercially available by the end of 2010 and can all be used for dialysis applications, while the GPSCath and Keeper catheters also have indications for PAD procedures.