Penumbra launches ACE 68 reperfusion catheter in USA

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Penumbra ACE 68
Penumbra ACE 68

Penumbra has launched its new ACE 68 reperfusion catheter in the USA. The catheter is part of the Penumbra System, and was launched at the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery (SNIS) 13th Annual Meeting in Boston, USA.

The ACE68 reperfusion catheter leverages tracking technology, with the intention of delivering maximum aspiration power easily and safely for extracting thrombus in acute ischaemic stroke patients.

“The tracking technology of the ACE68 Reperfusion Catheter is the most advanced,” says Blaise Baxter, chief of radiology at Erlanger Hospital, and chairman of radiology for the University of Tennessee College of Medicine (both Chattanooga, USA). “In my clinical experience with the ACE68, I saw the device easily navigate difficult tortuosity that would have challenged other devices. ACE68’s tracking performance, combined with a large aspiration lumen to enable efficient clot removal, make ACE68 the most compelling frontline device in stroke intervention.”
The ACE68 reperfusion catheter was engineered on a new tracking platform from hub to tip. Featuring a coil-winding geometry along 16 transitions—intended to to create an optimal tracking profile—ACE68 is designed to ensure easy tracking through tortuosity that is typical in acute ischaemic stroke patients. According to a press release, ACE68 is powered to extract clot en masse quickly and effectively as part of the Penumbra System.

“With the ACE68 reperfusion catheter, I can easily deliver full aspiration power to the occlusion,” says Johanna Fifi, assistant professor of neurology, neurosurgery and radiology at The Mount Sinai Hospital and director of the Endovascular Stroke Program at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, USA. “The ACE68’s large lumen increases the likelihood of capturing the clot fully within the catheter or the canister, potentially reducing the number of passes to achieve complete revascularisation and minimise embolisation to new territory.”

“The ACE68 provides an opportunity to reverse strokes faster and with less expense,” says Adam Arthur, professor, Department of Neurosurgery, UTHSC, Semmes-Murphey Neurologic & Spine Institute (Memphis, USA). “The larger lumen seems to allow better clot capture, which may reduce the need for adjunctive devices, simplify the procedure and reduce procedure cost — important considerations as hospitals look to expand stroke services.”

The ACE68 represents the latest advances in tracking technology to deliver a large bore reperfusion catheter easily and reliably through tortuosity that is typical in acute ischaemic stroke patients.

“We designed the ACE68 with the intent to make real improvement on stroke procedure time, outcome and cost. The early reports from physicians on the performance of ACE68 confirm that this is the most impactful stroke product we have ever developed,” says Adam Elsesser, chairman and chief executive officer of Penumbra.