Penumbra Launches Lightning Bolt 12 and Lightning Bolt 6X with Trax for VTE

January 31, 2025—Penumbra recently announced the launch of the Lightning Bolt 12 and the Lightning Bolt 6X with Trax systems, the next generation of the company’s computer assisted vacuum thrombectomy (CAVT) technology.

Penumbra stated that these new systems provide fast clot removal and are designed to rapidly restore flow, potentially without the need for thrombolysis or open surgery. These latest devices complement Penumbra’s vascular thrombectomy portfolio, which features the Lightning Bolt 7 and Lightning Flash 2.0.

Penumbra’s Lightning portfolio of CAVT technology combines intelligent aspiration and innovative catheter engineering designed to quickly remove blood clots in a single session, noted the company.

According to the company, the Lightning Bolt 12 thrombectomy system is designed to treat venous thromboembolism (VTE) with modulated aspiration. Paired with the updated Bolt 2.0 software, Lightning Bolt 12 joins Penumbra’s complete VTE platform to bring modulation to a 12-F profile. Its applications include upper extremity, portal veins, and large arterial thrombus. The Bolt 2.0 algorithm is engineered for improved clot removal efficiency using escalated modulation for high thrombus burden, making the system three times faster than Lightning 12 with Separator 12.

Penumbra stated that the Lightning Bolt 6X with Trax allows physicians to maintain 6-F vascular access and reach smaller vessels. The new CAT6X catheter with advanced coil-wind technology is designed for precise control and versatility in smaller vessels.

The enhanced hydrophilic coating is designed to create a smoother passage through the most difficult vessels by reducing friction to maximize efficiency. It comes packaged with the Trax dilator, the company’s first arterial-designed dilator that provides a 99% ledge reduction to support a continuous, seamless experience, reported Penumbra.