First-Time Use of Neurovascular Catheter for Inoperable Symptomatic Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm

The first use of the steerable microcatheter (BENDIT21; BENDIT Technologies, TEL AVIV, Israel) treatment was successful for a woman, age 57, with inoperable symptomatic internal carotid artery aneurysm. The catheter is designed to access hard-to-reach vascular locations by providing 3-dimensional clinician-controlled movement and self-regulating control of catheter tip deflection. 

"We were pleased to be granted FDA approval for the compassionate use for this first case in the US previous access attempts had failed both here at UT Southwestern and at an outside facility because the neck of the giant aneurysm could not be crossed using other catheters," said Dr. John Barr, professor of Radiology and Neurological Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Yossi Mazel, chief executive officer of the Petach Tikva-based medical device company added, "This first-in-human case in the US together with other cases done in Israel and Europe, has demonstrated the potential of our steerable microcatheter to access torturous anatomies. He concluded, "This feature allows successful endovascular treatments in most complex situations and demonstrates how our catheter can ease access and intra vascular navigation."