Gore Launches DrySeal Sheath With Hydrophilic Coating

December 18, 2012—Gore & Associates (Flagstaff, AZ) introduced the Gore DrySeal sheath with hydrophilic coating, which is intended to allow easier insertion and removal during endovascular repair procedures. The device is designed to increase sheath lubricity while minimizing particulation of the hydrophilic coating.

According to the company, the Gore DrySeal sheath is composed of the hemostatic Gore DrySeal sheath valve attached to the introducer sheath. The valve is pressurized to create a seal, thereby minimizing blood loss and accommodating multiple wires and catheters simultaneously. The valve consists of a silicone outer tube and an inner film tube. The tubes create an effective hemostatic seal that adapts to the profiles of the inserted devices.

Gore originally received FDA clearance for the DrySeal sheath in April 2010. The device is used in conjunction with the Gore Excluder abdominal aortic aneurysm endoprosthesis and the Conformable Gore TAG thoracic endoprosthesis in patients with isolated lesions of the descending thoracic aorta.

Alan Lumsden, MD, Medical Director of the Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center in Houston, Texas, performed the first procedure using the Gore DrySeal sheath in May 2010.

In the company's press release, Dr. Lumsden commented, “Hydrophilic coating is an added benefit to a device that is already doing a remarkable job of helping to prevent unnecessary blood loss to the patient, keeping the operating field free from excess blood and allowing the physician to maintain focus on the endovascular procedure at hand. This key improvement to the Gore DrySeal sheath offers clear advantages to both the physician and the patient.”