Boston Scientific Corporation has added two new sizes of its Rubicon support catheter for the United States market—0.035 and 0.018 inches. The device is designed to help physicians with placement and support of guide wires that are used in peripheral vascular procedures to deliver stents and balloons to open blockages in the legs and other peripheral arteries. Boston Scientific also is launching the 0.035 inch Rubicon support catheter in Europe to build on the momentum of the 0.018 inch size that was introduced there last fall.

Peripheral arterial disease affects approximately 27 million people worldwide. It can cause pain or cramping in the legs and hips due to lack of blood supply while walking or climbing stairs. In some cases, the condition can become so severe it can lead to critical limb ischemia (a restriction in blood supply) and the need for amputation. The Rubicon support catheter was designed to help clinicians more easily reach blockages.

“The Rubicon support catheter offers an outstanding combination of features,” said Louis Lopez, M.D., of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind. “It offers the pushability, low-profile and flexibility needed for navigating through the types of challenging, complex lesions that physicians face in the peripheral vascular space.”

The Rubicon support catheter previously had been available from Boston Scientific in a 0.014-inch diameter only, and by launching the 0.035- and 0.018-inch sizes, the company hopes to offer physicians a full range of diameters to treat patients with peripheral arterial disease. The catheter also is available in a variety of lengths, including 65 cm, 90 cm, 135 cm and 150 cm.

“Support catheters can help physicians treat more patients by facilitating the crossing of complex lesions,” said Jeff Mirviss, president of the peripheral interventions business at Boston Scientific. “By making a full range of diameters of Rubicon support catheters available, we are offering more choices to clinicians. The Rubicon support catheter is one of many new solutions that Boston Scientific has introduced to the market during the past two years.”

The Rubicon Support Catheter has received FDA 510(k) clearance and achieved CE Mark status.

Based in Natick, Mass., Boston Scientific provides medical technology solutions in a range of segments.

News from our sister sites