Laminate Medical Technologies (Laminate), a privately-held start-up developing the VasQ implanted blood vessel external support device for patients requiring arteriovenous (AV) fistula as vascular access for haemodialysis, have announced the first forearm fistula cases in Germany.
The first surgeries were performed at six hospitals, by seven surgeons.
“As one of the worldwide first users of the VasQ external scaffold for AV anastomosis for forearm fistula creation, I am very excited about the device and the possible short, middle and long-term benefits it may provide to patients. Its application is very easy and its handling adds very little time to the fistula procedure. Since it is well established that the geometrical configuration of the AV-anastomosis is crucial for reducing the future risk of perianastomotic stenosis, in my personal opinion it would be particularly advantageous to apply the VasQ device in patients with significant distance between the radial artery and forearm cephalic vein, and therefore avoid the related unnecessary and sometimes inevitable kinking of the perianastomotic vein and associated stenosis. With excitement I am awaiting the first results of the forearm VasQ device“, says Robert Shaverdyan, head of the Vascular Access Centre, Asklepios Clinic Barmbek in Hamburg, Germany.
“For me as a Vascular Access surgeon, keeping things simple is the key. Using the VasQ Forearm device is as simple as the upper arm procedure, with the same smooth and familiar handling. Therefore I am excited to see the great results of the upper arm confirmed in forearm access patients”, adds Christos Petridis, head of the Division of Vascular Surgery at Marienkrankenhaus Hamburg, Germany.
“The launch of our forearm devices is encouraging news for both patients and physicians. These devices will enable patients to be implanted with VasQ in more distal fistulas, which are the first choice according to international guidelines. With over 50 hospitals already using the technology routinely with compelling results, we are excited to introduce the forearm devices which provide additional options and benefits”, says Tammy Gilon, Laminate’s CEO.
Developed by Laminate, VasQ is intended for patients with kidney failure in need of dialysis requiring vascular access through an AV fistula.
VasQ is an external scaffold placed over the fistula, creating an optimal geometric configuration with the artery and reducing the tension in the vein. This allows proper blood flow during dialysis while reducing vein blockage created by thickening of the vein wall. VasQ is a CE marked device already in use in hospitals in Europe and in Israel.
