FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mary McIntosh 414-778-7810. 

Wauwatosa, WI (09/06/05) — The Wisconsin Heart Hospital was among the first to successfully complete a procedure utilizing breakthrough technology to clear blocked arteries in the leg—giving some patients an alternative to amputation.

This minimally invasive procedure, called Laser Atherectomy, was performed by cardiologist Brian Nelson, MD, on August 24, 2005. He used an excimer, or “cool” laser and catheter procedure to dissolve a blockage in a patient’s leg. The key to the procedure was a new laser catheter, called the CLiRpath® 2.5 TURBO Catheter, which is a promising new medical device cleared by the FDA on August 19, 2005.
 

This technology is used to treat critical limb ischemia (CLI), the most severe form of peripheral arterial disease (PAD)—a condition marked by narrowed or blocked arteries in the legs; non-healing wounds; and related conditions.

“Many patients suffering from peripheral artery disease and critical limb ischemia have few treatment options, so surgery—either bypass or limb amputation—is nearly inevitable,” notes Dr. Nelson. “More than half of all CLI patients are diabetics, and many also share a history of smoking or obesity.” Sadly, more than one million people in the United States suffer from this debilitating disease, resulting in nearly 100,000 amputations per year.

Developed by the Spectranetics Corporation, CLiRpath vaporizes blockages in the arteries that cannot be cleared by standard treatments, and restores straightline blood flow.

“With restored blood flow, there may be a greater chance that wounds can heal, limbs can be saved, and patients’ psychological and physical well-being can be improved,” says Dr. Nelson. In clinical trials (LACI CTRO Registry), CLiRpath resulted in a 95 percent limb salvage rate for patients surviving to six months.* 

The new CLiRpath 2.5 Turbo Catheter technology offers a number of advantages over its predecessors: it does a more effective and efficient job of clearing blocked arteries; offers a continuous lasing capability that shortens procedure times and reduces radiation exposure; and features a special coating that makes it easier to maneuver through areas of the body.

“The procedure may increase a patient’s chances of wound healing, and consequently limb salvage,” says Dr. Nelson.   “That brings hope to patients who were difficult to treat in the past—and a chance to improve their quality of life.”

According to the American Heart Association, PAD affects eight to 12 million Americans. It becomes more common as one gets older, and by age 70, about 20 percent of the population has it. Diagnosis is critical, as people with PAD face a six-to-seven times higher risk of heart attack or stroke.

For more information about The Wisconsin Heart Hospital and its breakthrough procedures, contact Mary McIntosh at 414-778-7810.

* Limb salvage for patients surviving to six months (40/42) in LACI CTRO Registry.  Limb salvage by intent to treat analysis at six months was 85 percent (40/47 patients).

About The Wisconsin Heart Hospital

An exciting, new era in the delivery of specialized cardiovascular care arrived in Wisconsin with the opening of The Wisconsin Heart Hospital (TWHH) at 10000 West Blue Mound Road (across from the Milwaukee County Zoo) in Wauwatosa.

The partnership between cardiovascular, specialty physicians, the community, investors and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare has produced a 60-bed specialized care hospital dedicated to providing advanced and innovative cardiovascular medical and surgical services delivered in a unique acute-care and ambulatory setting. Offering a true patient and family-centered experience, TWHH’s facility design complements the evolving future of ambulatory cardiovascular care. The model was designed to improve upon conventional treatment paradigms and deliver a highly focused process resulting in:

· Shortened treatment times
· Reduced probability of higher procedure complexity
· Avoidance of post-procedural complications
· Hastened return of the patient to normal day-to-day activities

For more information about The Wisconsin Heart Hospital, its award-winning care and outstanding outcomes, log on to TWHH.org or contact Mary McIntosh at 414-778-7810.

Spectranetics is a medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets single-use medical devices used in minimally invasive surgical procedures within the peripheral and cardiovascular system.  More information can be found at www.clirpath.com.