Technology

The SilverHawk® Plaque Excision System consists of two components: a low-profile catheter and a palm sized drive unit. Device functionality is controlled by a single on/off thumb-switch that resides on the drive unit. When activated by the physician, the blade on the tip of the catheter is exposed and rotates, removing the plaque from the artery wall as the catheter is advanced in the artery. As the blade shaves the plaque, the plaque is collected in the nosecone of the catheter. Depending on the particular device, the cutter extends through the nosecone to pack the tissue and maximize the storage capacity of the collection chamber. The physician will typically make multiple passes in the artery to excise plaque before removing the device to clean the plaque from the nosecone.

Precise and Predictable

Through a unique patented hinge design, the carbide blade is exposed at a fixed height during the procedure. This fixed height ensures thin shavings of plaque that are easily stored in the nosecone of the device. The carbide blade is also radiopaque and allows the physician to determine whether the collection chamber is full. The SilverHawk's platinum housing and torque system provides clear visualization of cutter positioning during the procedure.

Massive Tissue Capture

The SilverHawk is the first technology of its kind to remove significant amounts of atherosclerotic tissue from long, diffusely diseased lesions. When the nosecone is full, the device can be removed, cleaned and re-inserted again to treat additional areas within the same lesion or additional lesions. The device consistently removes hundreds of milligrams of tissue to restore blood flow.

Luminal Gain without Barotrauma

Due to its unique mechanical design, the catheter excises significant amounts of plaque without overstretching and injuring the vessel wall. Vessel overstretch, known as barotrauma, can lead to a dissection or perforation of the artery.