Interventional cardiologist JD Corl explains newest advances in IVL technology

Shockwave Medical introduced two new intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) catheters at TCT 2024 for the treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and critical limb ischemia (CLI). The Javelin is a new non-balloon based IVL platform with a forward-facing emitter for treating tight lesions and chronic total occlusions (CTOs). It will be offered as new alternative to atherectomy. The new E8 catheter, meanwhile, has 8 emitters to treat longer vessel segments with greater speed. 

Cardiovascular Business spoke with J.D. Corl, MD, medical director of the PAD/CLI program at The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, to discuss his experience using both catheters. He said they are an upgrade from the previous-generation IVL catheters. The Javelin, he added, stands out for its departure from traditional balloon-based technology and previous IVL catheters, utilizing a forward-focused emitter positioned near the catheter’s tip.

"The Javelin catheter is a non balloon-based lithotripsy catheter with a forward facing, single emitter that will actually affect the calcium in front of the catheter and allow it to cross lesions that are difficult to cross, or are uncrossable, due to calcium. It allows you to get through caps and proximal calcified stenosis that you couldn't previously cross, or had difficulty crossing," Corl explained.