New Medtronic thrombectomy system used commercially for first time
Mount Sinai Hospital in New York was the first to use the Medtronic Liberant thrombectomy system in a commercial case Nov. 21. The technology was designed to automatically adapt the pulse rate during treatment, providing the necessary aspiration power.
“The Liberant thrombectomy system is an effective new tool that performs well even in complex cases, maneuvering through challenging anatomy with ease,” Ajit Rao, MD, vascular surgeon and director of vascular surgery research at Mount Sinai, said in a statement. “We were able to remove clot burden with greater precision and, for patients, this means a procedure designed to be more efficient and aimed at helping them restore circulation and mobility as safely and effectively as possible."
“Liberant is designed to provide precision catheter deliverability while minimizing blood loss during clot removal—two key challenges often faced in thrombectomy procedures,” added John Laird, MD, chief medical officer of peripheral vascular health for Medtronic.
The new U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared mechanical aspiration thrombectomy system is indicated for the removal of fresh, soft emboli or thrombi from the peripheral arterial and venous vessels.
The system comes in 6, 8 and 12 French sizes. Smaller and larger sizes are in development, and a 5 French rapid exchange catheter is expected to launch in 2026. Each catheter includes an atraumatic and angled tip for more effective clot removal. It uses a braid-coil design to increase torque response and an ultrasonic sensor that measures blood flow.
The primary feature of the new system is the intelligent algorithm that helps control the pulse rate. Medtronic said this results in 35% less blood loss than alternative devices.
The addition of the Liberant device expands Medtronic's peripheral and venous vascular portfolios, and is the first of several new peripheral products the company has in development.
Dave Fornell has covered healthcare for more than 17 years, with a focus in cardiology and radiology. Fornell is a 5-time winner of a Jesse H. Neal Award, the most prestigious editorial honors in the field of specialized journalism. The wins included best technical content, best use of social media and best COVID-19 coverage. Fornell was also a three-time Neal finalist for best range of work by a single author. He produces more than 100 editorial videos each year, most of them interviews with key opinion leaders in medicine. He also writes technical articles, covers key trends, conducts video hospital site visits, and is very involved with social media. E-mail: [email protected]