Spectranetics Corporation (Nasdaq: SPNC) today reported the first human procedures using its Turbo-Tandem™ System, which had earlier received FDA clearance and CE mark approval for marketing in the US and the EU. The Turbo-Tandem System is a single-use, disposable device indicated for atherectomy of infrainguinal arteries. It is comprised of two integrated catheters, a 7 French laser guide catheter in combination with a 2.0mm excimer laser ablation catheter, and is designed to perform atherectomy and ablation of plaque in arterial lesions above the knee, primarily within the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries.

The first procedure in the EU took place on July 6th at Park-Krankenhaus Leipzig-Sudost GmbH in Leipzig, Germany and was performed by Dr. med. Matthias Ulrich in collaboration with Professor Dr. med. Dierk Scheinert. A 23 cm restenotic obstruction in the proximal superficial femoral artery was treated with a Spectranetics Turbo Elite® 2.0mm excimer laser catheter to create a pilot channel through the occlusion, followed by four passes of the Turbo-Tandem to atherectomize the two separate target treatment segments. After completion of the laser atherectomy and adjunct angioplasty, distal runoff was excellent with brisk TIMI 3 blood flow and no evidence of embolic impact. Following the procedure, Dr. Ulrich and Professor Scheinert commented: "The newly integrated Turbo-Tandem device allowed us to easily direct the laser catheter tip and deliver the laser energy accurately at the complex plaque burden. In comparison to the previous version of this catheter, the Turbo-Booster®, the set-up time was fast, the device was easier to manage, and the luminal gain exceeded our expectations. Overall, we are very satisfied with the performance of the Turbo-Tandem System."

The Turbo-Tandem was introduced to the US market with two procedures on July 8^th and 9^th which were presented to the attendees and faculty at the New Cardiovascular Horizons (NCVH) conference in New Orleans. The first case was performed by Professor Scheinert and was televised live via satellite from Leipzig, Germany. The second case, which was the first Turbo-Tandem case in the United States, was performed by Dr. Craig M. Walker, Founder and Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Institute of the South at Houma, LA and was also televised live to the NCVH conference. Dr. Walker treated a 95% discrete proximal lesion in the superficial femoral artery, debulking and atherectomizing the lesion utilizing four quadrant passes followed by circumferential passes.