J&J launches Shockwave Medical’s next-generation coronary IVL catheter
Johnson & Johnson has officially launched its next-generation intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) catheter for treating patients with calcified coronary artery disease (CAD). The Shockwave C2 Aero Coronary IVL Catheter from Shockwave Medical, a part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech, is now available in the United States and Japan. It will be made available in additional parts of the world in the months ahead.
The Shockwave C2 Aero Coronary IVL Catheter is based on years of feedback from cardiologists who have used previous iterations of Shockwave’s technology. It was made with improved deliverability and repositioning capabilities in mind, for example, making it easier to cross dense deposits of calcium. The catheter includes two emitters encased in an integrated balloon that fire up to 120 pulses—and deliver up to 240 Shockwaves—before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures.
“We’re redefining standards for coronary IVL with more efficient and predictable overall procedures in challenging cases when it matters most,” Isaac Zacharias, president of Shockwave Medical, said in a statement. “As others prepare to enter the coronary IVL market, Johnson & Johnson is raising the bar with our fifth-generation platform built on years of physician feedback, sustained R&D advancements and robust clinical validation of our unique mechanism of action that reinforce our IVL leadership.”
“Shockwave C2 Aero makes it easier to navigate tortuous coronary anatomy without relying on additional upfront ancillary devices,” added Margaret McEntegart, MD, PhD, director of the complex PCI program at Columbia University medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital. “That enhanced deliverability and efficiency can change IVL use and expand its role in treatment algorithms. By continuing to address real unmet physician needs like deliverability, crossability and repositioning, Johnson & Johnson is pushing expectations for what the technology can achieve in complex PCI procedures.”
Shockwave Medical, which Johnson & Johnson acquired in 2024 for $13 billion, has been a leader in IVL since the technology first made a splash in the field of interventional cardiology. However, as Zacharias mentioned, the IVL space has been getting more and more competitive in recent years. Boston Scientific, Abbott, Philips and Stryker are just some of the other medtech companies with their own IVL technologies at various stages of development.
Shockwave Medical will be displaying the Shockwave C2 Aero at EuroPCR 2026 in Paris, France, from May 19-22, 2026.
Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.