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Terumo Interventional Systems Expands World-Class Transradial Access Solutions Portfolio With Introduction Of Heartrail™ III Coronary Guiding Catheter
Company Moves Closer To Becoming Premier Global Transradial Access Products Provider with Its First Guiding Catheter

Heartrail III     September 24, 2010 -- Somerset, New Jersey -- Terumo Interventional Systems, a strategic business unit of Terumo Medical Corporation, and leading manufacturer of guidewires, catheters, sheaths, and embolization products, today announced the nationwide availability of the new Heartrail™ III Coronary Guiding Catheter, the company’s first guiding catheter specifically designed for right radial access to maximize Transradial interventional procedures.

The Heartrail III guiding catheter is designed for use in the left- or right-coronary artery. Heartrail III guiding catheters offer both Ikari and TIG radial tip shapes that provide five distinct benefits:
  • A curve design that specifically addresses the backup support needed in a guiding catheter that is missing from many catheters that are used from the right radial access;
  • Bigger Lumen Size (6 Fr., 1.80mm inner diameter) – Features a larger lumen as well as lower device friction to accommodate bigger stents and balloons without having to change out catheters;
  • Flexible Shaft Design – Superior trackability, even in tortuous vessels;
  • Superior Torque Control – Smooth handling for accurate engagement of the artery; and
  • High Radiopacity – Enhanced visibility allows accurate tip positioning in coronary ostium.

The Heartrail Guiding catheter is also available in Europe and Asia.

“I am a firm believer in the benefits of the Transradial access approach, which is why I worked with Terumo engineers to develop a Judkins-style catheter specifically designed to maximize radial procedures,” said Yuji Ikari, MD, PhD, FACC, Professor, Department of Cardiology, Tokai University School of Medicine, in Tokyo, Japan. “The Heartrail III’s unique brachiocephalic curve provides a larger, more secure contact point between the catheter and the reverse side of the aorta that leads to a greater angle between the aorta and the catheter. This results in extremely strong backup force to help brace device placement.”

Transradial access uses the arteries of the wrist, rather than the groin, to gain access to the heart. It is the leading access strategy in many countries of the world and while the technique accounts for an estimated three to five percent of cases in the U.S., there is a growing interest among physicians for more specialized tools that facilitate the procedure.

“The Heartrail guide catheters are Terumo’s initial attempt to bring physicians specific tools that will help facilitate procedural outcomes when accessing the coronaries from the right radial artery. Specifically, the Ikari catheters were designed to be “Judkin’s-like” with great backup support, something that the traditional femoral shape catheters don’t offer from the right radial access,” said Gary Clifton, Senior Marketing Manager, Terumo Medical Corporation. “In addition to providing educational information and transradial access training to physicians, Terumo is committed to delivering a complete set of tools that will enhance successful outcomes and quality of life for patients undergoing PCI procedures via the radial access.” For more information about the new Heartrail III Coronary Guiding Catheter, please call 800-862-4143 to speak to an Inside Sales Specialist or visit www.terumois.com.

Terumo Interventional Systems
Terumo Interventional Systems (TIS), a strategic business unit of Terumo Medical Corporation, directly markets a full line of guidewires, catheters, introducer sheaths, guiding sheaths and embolization products for use in a multitude of different interventional procedures.

Interventional Radiologists, Interventional Neuroradiologists, Interventional Cardiologists, and Vascular Surgeons are among the medical professionals that depend upon TIS products to access and cross difficult-to-reach lesions, thereby allowing therapeutic intervention in previously unreachable vascular beds.

Terumo Medical Corporation
Founded in 1972 as a Terumo Corporation subsidiary, Terumo Medical Corporation (TMC) develops, manufactures, and markets high-quality medical devices used in a broad range of applications in numerous healthcare markets. TMC manufactures a broad portfolio of needles and syringes, entry-site management products, and a line of sterile connection devices used in hospitals and blood banks worldwide.

Terumo Corporation
Tokyo-based Terumo Corporation is one of the world’s leading medical device manufacturers with $3.0 billion in sales and operations in more than 160 nations. Founded in 1921, the company develops, manufactures, and distributes world-class medical devices including products for use in cardiothoracic surgery, interventional procedures, and transfusion medicine; the company also manufactures a broad array of syringe and hypodermic needle products for hospital and physician office use. Terumo contributes to society by providing valued products and services to the healthcare market and by responding to the needs of healthcare providers and the people they serve.

Terumo Corporation’s shares are listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (No. 4543, Reuters symbol <4543.T>, or Bloomberg 4543: JP) and is a component of the Nikkei 225, Japan’s leading stock index.

Source: Terumo Interventional Systems