On July 11, 2017, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted Ra Medical Systems (Carlsbad, CA), which develops excimer lasers and catheters for cardiovascular and dermatological diseases, with a broad patent (No. 9700655) that covers the company's DABRA laser catheter for cardiovascular disease treatment. The catheter recently received FDA clearance, and is now available in the U.S. and Europe.
The patent, which covers the catheter's "small flexible liquid core catheter for laser ablation in body lumens and methods for use," is pivotal for the company's intellectual property, as it provides wide-ranging patent protection for the catheter. The catheter uses a liquid fill with a solid window that shows improved tissue removal, while other multi-fiber excimer catheters that have a high percentage of dead space.
DABRA, which stands for destruction of arteriosclerotic blockages by laser radiation ablation, treats peripheral artery disease (PAD), a major cause of limb amputations. The device has shown short procedure times and may also reduce the costs that are associated with treating PAD and ultimately lead to greater patient access to, and success with, interventional procedures instead of limb amputation.
For more information, please visit www.ramed.com.