May 24, 2011 - Cordis announced it has obtained CE mark for its Empira and Empira NC RX percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) dilatation catheters for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The Empira systems are designed to enable interventional cardiologists to open patients' narrowed coronary arteries during angioplasty and stenting procedures. The company also highlighted its radial access products at EuroPCR 2011.
The Empira family of PTCA dilatation catheters incorporates several design and technology changes that have the potential to improve crossability and recrossability, allowing a physician to reach even hard-to-treat lesions. Both catheters utilize the next generation Dralyn Flex balloon material, which is 50 percent more flexible than the Duralyn balloon material used in the current dilatation catheters. Empira will be made available in selected sizes to a limited number of centers in Europe during the summer. A full European commercial launch of Empira is planned for Q4 2011.
Cordis also announced the launch in Europe of Radial Solutions, a portfolio for transradial interventions. New to the portfolio is the Cordis RadialSource Transradial Access Kit. RadialSource transradial sheaths are designed to provide cardiologists with atraumatic and smooth access to the radial artery during diagnostic and interventional procedures.
The RadialSource transradial sheath incorporates a new tapering design in conjunction with a lubricious coating, offering the benefits of low insertion force with a smooth atraumatic entry, while enabling stability during procedure and ease of removal. Physicians will be offered a choice of kit with a bare metal or a polymer-coated guide wire.
Cordis Radial Solutions encompass Cordis' well known guiding and diagnostic catheters with new specific radial shapes, transradial sheath introducer, guide wires and professional education training.
"Radial access, with much fewer bleeding complications, is becoming the dominant access site in many countries," said Douglas G. Fraser, MB, BChir, MRCP, DM, interventional cardiologist, Manchester Heart Centre, Manchester Royal Infirmary, U.K.
June 13, 2024 
