The medtech giant tailored Steerant to facilitate catheter placement and exchange during diagnostic or interventional aortic procedures. It designed the guidewire to support endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) procedures.
Dr. Naiem Nassiri performed the first EVAR case with Steerant at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut. Dr. Patrick E. Muck performed the first TEVAR case at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio.
EVAR and TEVAR, both minimally invasive procedures, treat abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms, according to Medtronic. Nassiri said in a news release that the minimally invasive option offers fast recovery and prioritizes patient safety. Muck called guidewires “the backbone of the aortic procedure.”
Steerant features a 15 cm soft, atraumatic tip that gradually transitions into a stiff main body. This provides protection for fragile aortic anatomy along with support for device deployment. Its gradual stiffness transition delivers balanced control in straightforward and challenging anatomy. Medtronic also designed it with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating that provides smooth device delivery.
“We are excited to offer an innovative device for aortic procedures that provides the right balance of stiffness and trackability while also supplying the right length and control for physicians,” said Dr. Simona Zannetti, GM of Medtronic’s Aortic business. “We look forward to rolling out the Steerant device to clinicians treating aneurysms across the United States and Canada.”
