Argon Medical Launches Portal Vein Access Tech

Argon Medical Devices Inc. has launched two portal vein liver access sets for diagnostic and interventional procedures.

The Scorpion and Scorpion X offer improved visualization, navigation control, and enhanced durability to augment existing procedural techniques. “Establishing access to the portal venous system is often the longest and most challenging part of many procedures. This is particularly true when the liver is diseased, making the anatomy irregular. I designed the SCORPION’s independently controlled dual curves to improve the physician’s ability to navigate through liver parenchyma and reduce the number of attempts necessary to establish access to the portal vein,” said Dr. Lowell Khan, the Scorpion Series’ designer and a vascular and diagnostic interventional radiologist in Springfield, Mass., in conjunction with Hatch Medical LLC. 

The Scorpion Portal Vein Access Series addresses the common challenges physicians encounter when placing a Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) or conducting other portal vein access procedures. The Scorpion Portal Vein Access Series features a patented curve-in-curve system to offer doctors a 360-degree range of motion with the needle or stylet used to access the portal vein. Each curved component can work together or independently to accurately steer the device through the liver to the intended target. Existing systems utilize only a single curve limiting the steerability of the needle or stylet.  
 
“Argon Medical is proud to add the Scorpion Series into our product portfolio. Launching Scorpion demonstrates our desire and ability to innovate to improve the lives of our customers and the patients they treat.” said George Leondis, CEO of Argon Medical 
 
The Scorpion Portal Vein Access sets are currently available in the United States. Scorpion is licensed by Argon Medical and is a trademark of Hatch Medical. 
 
Argon Medical is a global manufacturer of specialty medical products, headquartered in Frisco, Texas. Argon offers medical devices for interventional radiology, vascular surgery, interventional cardiology and oncology. By utilizing a well-established sales and marketing infrastructure, Argon serves its global customers through a direct sales organization and through long-standing relationships with medical device distributors, strategic partners and OEMs. Argon has manufacturing facilities in Athens, Texas; Wheeling, Ill.; and Rochester, N.Y.