July 17, 2007 - Cordis Corp. announced the introduction in the European market of the Fire Star Rx (Rapid Exchange) PTCA (Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty) Dilatation Catheter, which, according to the manufacturer, provides the lowest pre-dilatation balloon profile in the market.
The Fire Star Rx PTCA Dilatation Catheter is designed with a low balloon profile to facilitate angioplasty procedures to re-open narrowed or blocked areas in arteries, usually prior to the placement of a stent. It is engineered to enable interventional cardiologists to guide the catheter through tortuous anatomy and cross complex calcified lesions. The device is also intended for use in highly stenosed lesions and bifurcations. The device also features controlled balloon expansion for accurate dilatation of arteries, minimizing the potential for artery damage.