Combined Drug/Device Therapy for DVT
In November, the FDA approved use of the AngioJet System (pdf) for clot removal in veins, including DVTs, manufactured by Possis Medical, Inc. Studies presented this month at the annual meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) (pdf) suggest improved ability to remove clots within a shorter time frame.
The approach described entails use of AngioJet to deliver clot-busting drugs to patients. AngioJet pumps pressurized saline into veins to remove clots. Physicians added clot-busting drugs, hoping to see improved outcomes secondary to combined benefits from the drug and device, described in the SIR report. Studies published to date with this combined device-drug apporach all focused on patients with DVT.
Over half a million people are diagnosed with DVT annually in the U.S, which can be fatal. Almost 200,000 people die annually from pulmonary embolism (clots that travel to the lungs). Possis recently unveiled the Ultra console, a next generation of the AngioJet system, which is more intuitive for users.
March 20, 2007 Related topics: Product Approval & Certification, New Technology & Innovation, Hematology & Oncology, Cardiology