New Coronary Catheter Tackles Challenging Environments

A novel coronary catheter system features controlled guidewire advancement technology to help cross coronary chronic total occlusions (CTOs).

The ENABLER-C Coronary Catheter system is based on a unique balloon design to provide guidewire support, centralization, and controlled advancement. The system comprises the ENABLER-C catheter, with the look and feel of a traditional balloon catheter; the ENABLER pressure control unit (PCU), used to automate the inflation and deflation of the catheter’s balloon, a syringe-set, and a sterile cover. The catheter is first advanced to the target lesion over a standard 0.035 guidewire; it is then inflated proximal to the target lesion, anchoring the balloon against the vessel wall, resulting in guidewire support and centralization.

Additional inflations of the balloon result in the gripping of the guidewire and balloon elongation, resulting in a controlled advancement forward of the guidewire. A decrease in balloon pressure results in the balloon returning to its original shape, so the guidewire can be released and moved freely. The advantage is that advancement the guidewire from a closer proximity to the lesion prevents buckling and allows for focused force transfer. The ENABLER-C Coronary Catheter System is a product of EndoCross (Yokneam, Israel), and has received the European Community CE marking of approval.

“The ENABLER-C Catheter System uses familiar balloon catheter and guidewire technologies and does not require expensive or complex capital equipment,” said Yaron Eshel, chief operating officer of EndoCross. “Therefore, the system may provide the simplicity and consistency needed to increase the overall rate of PCI treatment of CTOs, resulting in improved patient treatment and lower overall cost.”

“EndoCross has developed a unique chronic occlusion crossing device that can facilitate penetration and crossing of complex occlusions with standard off-the-shelf wires. The device allows for effective and controlled luminal crossing,” added Maurice Buchbinder, MD, chief medical officer of EndoCross.

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) remains as the leading cause of death in both the European Union and globally. Significant improvements in acute and long-term results drive an ongoing interest in the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treatment of CTOs. However, due to the complexity of existing solutions and a persistent degree of outcome uncertainty, many patients with CTOs are currently referred for more costly coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, rather than being treated by PCI.

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