Argon Medical Devices (Frisco, Texas) said this week that it has launched single-loop and triple-loop retrieval kits for percutaneous removal of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters that are no longer medically required.

The kits are indicated for use via a jugular approach and offer the following features:

• A coil-reinforced outer sheath with the strength needed to detach filter legs from the IVC wall.
• Radiopaque bands on the distal end of the inner sheath, outer sheath and the snare catheter for enhanced visualization.
• A 15-degree curve at the distal tip of the snare catheter for directional control.

“We are excited to improve the IVC filter retrieval options available to our customers with the introduction of these new products,” said Argon Medical president & CEO George A. Leondis in a news release. “Our single-loop and triple-loop retrieval kits are the only two kits cleared by the FDA for removing any retrievable IVC filter from a jugular approach. These new products further demonstrate our dedication to our mission to improve the lives of patients and caregivers through the innovation of best-in-class medical devices.”

“IVC filters are a safe and effective treatment for the prevention of pulmonary embolism (PE), however they should be removed when the need for the filter subsides,” added Dr. David Trost of Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York. “I like that Argon’s new retrieval kits can be used on all retrievable IVC filters, regardless of brand, from the jugular vein, providing unique versatility.”