一種新型渦輪導管被設計用于治療表淺股動脈(SFA)的完全堵塞。該導管已經獲得美國食品藥品管理局的許可。

這種2.5渦輪導管是CLiRpath系列的最新產品，是具有知識產權的受激準分子激光導管，直徑從0.9mm～2.5mm不等。這種新激光具有幾種增強的設計功能。包括激光纖維數量增加，能夠多產生30%的能量，穿透速度快了60%，能夠消融較大的SFA和膝后動脈；持續的發射激光隊列能夠使得手術時間縮短并減少放射暴露；水解被膜能夠產生更平滑地推進至緊密的病變處，能夠較為容易地跨越動脈分杈處。

許多患外周血管疾病和嚴重肢體缺血的患者出現完全堵塞，標準引導鋼絲不能穿過病變處，因此缺乏有效的治療選擇--或者進行旁路手術或者截肢--這幾乎是不可避免的。CLiRpath為這些患者提供了截肢以外的治療選擇。

“我們最領先之處是穿越了關鍵的肢體缺血市場，通過增強我們現有產品，側重于SFA和膝蓋以下部位血管的完全堵塞這一難題，同時擴大我們治療外周血管疾病領域，使用導管將會在下肢上部或者表淺股動脈產生更大的內腔。”Spectranetics(Colorado Springs, CO, USA)公司總裁兼首席執行官John G. Schulte如此評價，正是該公司研制開發了這種新型渦輪導管。

Turbo Catheter Treats Total Occlusions
 
A new turbo catheter is designed to treat total occlusions in the superficial femoral artery (SFA). The catheter has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The 2.5 turbo catheter is the latest in the CLiRpath line of proprietary excimer laser catheters, ranging in diameter from 0.9 mm to 2.5 mm. This new laser features several design enhancements. These include an increased number of laser fibers, which create 30% more energy and 60% faster penetration rate to ablate larger lumens in the SFA and popliteal arteries; a continuous lasing train that will enable shorter procedure times and reduce radiation exposure; and a hydrophilic coating to allow for smoother advancement through tight lesions and an easier transition over the aortic bifurcation.

Many patients suffering from peripheral vascular disease and critical limb ischemia have total occlusions that cannot be crossed with standard guide wires, and have so few treatment options that surgery--either bypass or limb amputation--is nearly inevitable. CLiRpath provides an alternative to amputation for these patients.

“Our top priority is to further penetrate the critical limb ischemia market through enhancements to our current products focusing on long total occlusions in the SFA and below-the-knee applications, and also to expand our presence in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease with catheters that will generate larger lumens in the upper leg or the superficial femoral artery,” said John G. Schulte, president and CEO of Spectranetics (Colorado Springs, CO, USA), which developed the new turbo catheter.