Volcano Launches PrimeWire Prestige Plus Pressure Guidewire With AcuSense Technology

October 23, 2012—Volcano Corporation (San Diego, CA) announced the global launch of the PrimeWire Prestige Plus pressure guidewire with AcuSense technology, which aims to provide precise measurements when distal pressure is monitored for long periods of time. The guidewires are now available in the United States, Europe, Japan, and other international markets.

According to the company, the PrimeWire Prestige Plus will serve as the platform for Volcano's expanding clinical programs. The device will be used in six recently announced Volcano-sponsored clinical studies that will explore new indications in stable and unstable coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, and neurology.

The trials include the ADVISE II and the DEFINE family of studies (Distal Evaluation of Functional significance of Intra-arterial stenosis Narrowing Effect). These studies will further explore clinical and economic outcomes impacted by fractional flow reserve, coronary flow reserve, Volcano's iFR (instant wave-free ratio), and other physiologic indices.

In the company's press release, Bruce Samuels, MD, of Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, and Jasvindar Singh, MD, of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, commented on the evolution of this technology.

“FAME and now FAME 2 are landmark studies showing how measuring pressure gradients across coronary narrowings can help to improve our treatment strategy for patients,” stated Dr. Samuels. “We always have been able to see the anatomic outlines of coronary narrowings. However, the ability to now make live pressure measurements enables us to finally understand their functional significance. This technology has galvanized the interventional community and has dramatically improved our ability to provide appropriate care for our patients. It is our role as clinicians to continue to find ways to improve outcomes and make the patient record more complete. Our work with fractional flow reserve and other indices will continue to move percutaneous coronary intervention forward, and help us apply those same principles to similar challenges outside of the heart.”

Dr. Singh added, “New technology often leads to unlocking new clinical indications. A precision miniature sensor at the end of a frontline guidewire is a tool that has eluded interventionists historically. Now we can use this tool to learn more about coronary and peripheral artery disease, and the ease of use opens the door for more researchers to participate.”