AngioDynamics launches scalable electrode for radio frequency ablation
in surgery
4 September 2007 Queensbury, NY. USA. AngioDynamics (NASDAQ:ANGO) has
launched the RITA UniBlate, a scalable, single-needle radiofrequency
ablation electrode used to coagulate lesions during percutaneous,
laparoscopic, and intraoperative surgical procedures. The UniBlate
features a single, 17 gauge cannula electrode with a scalable active tip
length of 1 to 2.5cm. This allows the physician to perform multiple
ablations with the same electrode; the physician can adjust the length of
the active electrode to ablate areas between 1 and 3cm in length and 1 and
2.5cm in diameter, reducing the need to switch electrodes during a multiple
ablation procedure. In turn, this minimizes a hospital’s need to maintain an
inventory of single electrode RF needles of varying sizes. The single
needle design also provides an added level of safety for ablations that are
needed near critical and delicate structures, when multi-tine electrode
arrays are less desirable. With the UniBlate, AngioDynamics provides
interventional radiologists, oncologists, and surgeons a full line of RF
devices capable of ablating a variety of lesions from one to seven
centimeters in diameter. “The UniBlate enables the successful treatment of
small tumours located in critical anatomical areas,” said Dr Riccardo
Lencioni, Professor of Radiology, University of Pisa. “In our practice, we
see a number of patients with small liver or lung tumours in very difficult
locations, where placement or deployment of an electrode array may be
technically challenging. We have treated these patients safely and
successfully with the UniBlate.” Peter R. Mueller, MD, Professor of
Radiology at Harvard Medical School and Head of Abdominal Imaging and
Interventional Radiology at Massachusetts General Hospital concurred. “The
UniBlate has become a valuable part of our RF armamentarium,” said Dr.
Mueller. “The electrode’s small footprint is useful for treating lesions in
difficult anatomic locations and its powerful profile allows us to treat
lesions in a variety of organs.” “The RITA line of RF ablation devices is
the market leader and is well known among surgeons and interventionalists
for its clinical efficacy,” said Eamonn Hobbs, AngioDynamics President and
CEO. “The UniBlate strengthens this offering by providing physicians with
greater flexibility and safety in small lesion ablations. We have been
delighted by the enthusiasm with which physicians have welcomed the
UniBlate, and we are very encouraged by the clinical benefits that have been
demonstrated in early cases. We look forward to its full commercial launch
in November.”
AngioDynamics has begun a limited commercial launch of UniBlate, and the
Company expects a full market launch on November 1.
Professor Lencioni will be presenting data on his early clinical experience
with the UniBlate at the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological
Society of Europe annual scientific meeting in Athens, Greece held on Sept
8-12, 2007. To top
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