FDA clears guide wire for patients with peripheral artery disease

The FDA cleared a new guide wire from Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. on July 6 for use in the company’s peripheral orbital atherectomy systems.

The ViperWire Advance Peripheral Guide Wire with Flex Tip reduces the tip stiffness while maintaining torque transfer, according to a company news release. It also improves trackability and features a Nitinol support coil and larger proximal core.

The systems are used in patients with peripheral artery disease, which affects nearly 18 million adults in the U.S. Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. plans on releasing the new guide wire in August.

Tim Casey,

Executive Editor

Tim Casey joined TriMed Media Group in 2015 as Executive Editor. For the previous four years, he worked as an editor and writer for HMP Communications, primarily focused on covering managed care issues and reporting from medical and health care conferences. He was also a staff reporter at the Sacramento Bee for more than four years covering professional, college and high school sports. He earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Notre Dame and his MBA degree from Georgetown University.

Around the web

Ron Blankstein, MD, professor of radiology, Harvard Medical School, explains the use of artificial intelligence to detect heart disease in non-cardiac CT exams.

Eleven medical societies have signed on to a consensus statement aimed at standardizing imaging for suspected cardiovascular infections.

Kate Hanneman, MD, explains why many vendors and hospitals want to lower radiology's impact on the environment. "Taking steps to reduce the carbon footprint in healthcare isn’t just an opportunity," she said. "It’s also a responsibility."