Cook Medical announces availability of cardiac lead extender

Cook Vascular, a subsidiary of Cook Medical, has announced the launch of the Bulldog lead extender to be used during cardiac lead removal procedures.

Designed to assist physicians control and grasp cardiac leads that do not have a hollow central lumen, doctors can use the lead extender to provide a robust anchor which can be attached to the central cable of the lead for improved tactile feedback for the manipulation of extraction sheaths.

Previously, physicians would use simple sutures passed through extraction sheaths as a handle, which are difficult to grasp and can be broken with the application of force.

The company reports that the removal of leads without a hollow central lumen can be difficult and unpredictable as a result of their short external length.

“Control of the lead during the removal procedure is an important factor for success,” it added.

Cook Medical notes that the firm is a “pioneering leader” in technology for lead extraction, with the company dedicated to the further development of novel products in this field.

Last December, Cook Medical announced that its Z-Trak introduction system for its Zenith TX2 TAA endovascular stent graft had received a CE mark approval.