News release
Terumo Corporation (Head Office: Shibuya-ku Tokyo; President: Yutaro Shintaku) announced today that it has commenced sales of internally developed Tercross PTA balloon catheters in Europe. Tercross is designed for treating peripheral artery disease including ones below the knee.
PTA (Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty)
PTA is a procedure in which a small balloon, having a diameter around 1 mm, is at the end of thin catheter and inflated in the narrowed or occluded lesions of peripheral blood vessels in the arms and legs to restore blood flow. In addition to conventional drug-based treatment and surgery, peripheral intervention with PTA balloon catheters and stents is a minimally invasive therapy for the treatment of patients with peripheral artery disease. Accordingly, its application is expected to further expand.
Features of Tercross
Tercross employs hydrophilic coating on part of its surface, which increases lubrication when it contacts blood, in order to enhance lesion crossability. Physicians can choose between two types of balloons. One is non-compliant balloon with high pressure resistance, suitable for calcified lesions. Another is flexible semi-compliant balloon designed to enhance crossability in stenotic lesions. Furthermore, to accommodate the long lesions often found below the knee, Terumo offers a lineup of six balloons with different lengths ranging from 20 to 200 millimeters. Terumo also reinforced the catheter shaft with rigid materials in order to improve its pushability.
Aiming for Expanding Peripheral Intervention Business
Over the long term, our unwavering goal is to become a company with a global presence. As an important measure for realizing this objective, Terumo is broadening its product lineup to expand peripheral intervention business. Positioning the sales release of Tercross as a step in this direction, Terumo will continue striving to achieve its long-term goal.
About Terumo
Terumo (TSE: 4543) is a global leader in medical technology and has been committed to “Contributing to Society through Healthcare” for 100 years. Based in Tokyo and operating globally, Terumo employs more than 30,000 associates worldwide to provide innovative medical solutions in more than 160 countries and regions. The company started as a Japanese thermometer manufacturer, and has been supporting healthcare ever since. Now, its extensive business portfolio ranges from vascular intervention and cardio-surgical solutions, blood transfusion and cell therapy technology, to medical products essential for daily clinical practice such as transfusion systems, diabetes care, and peritoneal dialysis treatments. Terumo will further strive to be of value to patients, medical professionals, and society at large.