WESTMINSTER, Colo., March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Surefire Medical‘s new infusion system maximizes delivery of drugs directly to the tumor site while minimizing potential damage to non-target organs, according to a new study. The ability to more safely and efficiently deliver embolic agents to target tumors locally marks a significant advance in radiation oncology procedures and in the treatment of liver cancer.
The 29 procedure study, led by Steven Rose , M.D. of the University of California at San Diego Medical Center (UCSD) and reported in CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology, determined that when the unique Surefire expandable anti-reflux tip is deployed, an approximate 20 mm Hg pressure drop occurs downstream from the tip, causing a reversal of blood flow in arteries between the liver and adjacent organs. This phenomenon prevents the chemoembolization or radioembolization agents from flowing into downstream non-target vessels.
“These results show that the new catheter technology makes it possible to prevent embolics from traveling to distal non-target vessels,” said Rose. “We may potentially see improved patient outcomes because all blood flow carrying the embolics is directed to the liver while protecting the rest of the body.”
The Surefire catheter’s unique expandable tip also enables more of the embolic agents to reach their intended destination.