Medtronic releases new angioplasty catheter

Medtronic has introduced a new angioplasty catheter to treat arteries in the lower leg.

The company has announced its Amphirion Plus Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty (PTA) Catheter is being launched in the US and internationally, which has been developed for treatment of atherosclerotically narrowed or occluded leg arteries found below the knees.

Having recently received the Conformite Europeenne mark and 510(k) clearance by the Food and Drug Administration in the US, the product is now being used by physicians in both America and Europe.

Nezar Falluji, interventional cardiologist at St Joseph Cardiology Associates, completed the first case with the device and praised its pushability and crossability characteristics.

He stated: "Its innovative design has made the Amphirion family of PTA balloons excellent tools in the management of critical limb ischemia and below the knee intervention." 

Marco Manzi, chief of the Policlinico Abano Terme's interventional radiology unit in Vincenza, Italy, said the device improves accessibility for even the most challenging arteries beneath the knee.