July 12, 2000

New Arashi PTCA dilatation catheter for use in treatment of angina pectoris and myocardial infarction

On July 13, Tokyo-based Terumo Corporation released its Arashi dilatation catheter for use in PTCA (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty) procedures, a method of treatment for conditions such as angina pectoris and myocardial infarction that result from stenosis or occlusion of coronary arteries.

PTCA employs a tube of around 1 mm in diameter, known as a catheter, with a balloon attached to the tip. It is inserted into the diseased part of an occluded or blocked coronary artery, the cause of angina pectoris or myocardial infarction, to compress the plaque and thus enlarge the vessel.

PTCA is performed within the blood vessel itself, resulting in minimal physical stress on the patient compared to bypass surgery, which involves opening the chest. This makes PTCA suitable for elderly patients. It also requires a hospital stay of only a few days, which both reduces costs to the patient and makes it suited to government policy of cutting medical costs. Currently around 100,000 PTCA procedures are performed in Japan each year.

The Arashi offers a finer catheter shaft than previous products, expanding possibilities for application to a wider range of techniques, including special treatments such as simultaneous use of two catheters. The tip is also finer and shorter for smoother passage through vessels, and for easier treatment of curved sections of diseased vessels. The Arashi is an improvement, in terms of maneuverability, on the Hayate, a dilatation catheter developed by Terumo in 1998 that has been well received by medical specialists.

The Arashi is a rapid exchange-type catheter, i.e. constructed so that the guide wire passes only through the distal portion of the catheter. This ensures ease in catheter exchange and superior maneuverability. Made from a flexible material, the balloon on the catheter tip is semi-compliant in response to pressure, enabling the catheter to be used for a variety of different cases and techniques.

The sales objective for the period ending March 2001 is 1.7 billion yen.

Arashi product features

1. Finer shaft section The shaft section of the catheter is finer than the earlier 2.7Fr and 2.0Fr versions. This catheter can be used by medical specialists for a variety of different treatment techniques.
2. Catheter tip coated with hydrophilic polymer Use of a hydrophilic polymer coating on the tip, which improves lubricity upon contact with blood, allows for smooth passage through diseased sections and easier access to the target position.
3. Short tip The distance between the balloon and the tip has been reduced for smoother passage of the catheter through blood vessels, and for treating diseased sections of curved arteries.
4. Low-profile design balloon section The balloon section at the tip of the catheter is folded neatly (low profile design), allowing for easier passage to diseased sections of vessels that are particularly hardened or narrow.
5. Double markers The balloon section is marked in two places to allow for highly accurate checking of the balloon position by X-ray during the procedure.

Terumo has contributed to progress in the area of vascular treatment with its development of products such as PTCA dilatation catheters, coronary stents, and devices for intravascular diagnostic ultrasound. The company remains committed to developing high performance medical equipment that reduces physical stress on patients and reduces medical costs.

Arashi PTCA dilatation catheter
Official price: 260,000 yen