Boston's Peripheral cutting balloon:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The US FDA has cleared for sale Boston Scientific's Peripheral Cutting Balloon for addressing complications that can occur in patients with end stage renal disease who need haemodialysis. The device is designed to remove blockages in vascular access grafts - soft, synthetic tubes that are used to connect the ends of an artery and vein. It features tiny, longitudinally mounted microsurgical blades on the surface of an angioplasty balloon. As the balloon is expanded, the blades score the lesion with precise incisions. The balloon dilates the vessel at a lower, and more suitable, pressure than traditional angioplasty, the company claimed.