Penumbra and Asahi Intecc, a Japanese medical device manufacturer, announced that they will collaborate to introduce Penumbra’s Indigo Aspiration System into the Japanese market upon regulatory approval.
“By bringing together our newest innovations with Asahi’s leadership and expertise in the Japanese medical device market, we can provide physicians in Japan with technology that has been proven highly effective, helping patients to return home quickly and in good health,” said Adam Elsesser, president and chief executive officer of Penumbra.
Penumbra’s Indigo Aspiration System can be used to remove emboli and thrombi from vessels of the peripheral arterial and venous systems, and for treatment of pulmonary embolism. A minimally invasive device, Indigo enables the restoration of blood flow in such cases as acute limb ischaemia and venous thrombus.
Penumbra’s newest generation offering combines hypotube-based Indigo Aspiration Catheters with Lightning Intelligent Aspiration, a unique computer-aided clot detection technology that can differentiate between clot and blood, designed to reduce blood loss and the need for clot-dissolving drugs, which may lower the risk of bleeding complications.
“Our companies share the mission of helping expand the available treatment options for serious conditions that impact an increasing number of people in Japan,” said Masahiko Miyata, president and chief executive officer of Asahi Intecc. “We believe that, together, we are able to provide physicians with the latest innovations that best meet their patients’ needs and help advance patient care.”
Penumbra’s neurovascular thrombectomy and neurovascular and peripheral embolization devices will continue to be distributed by its long-time partner, Medico’s Hirata. This includes the latest RED reperfusion catheters, which are designed with optimised trackability and aspiration efficiency to help navigate the complex anatomy of the brain and deliver efficient aspiration for the removal of blood clots in a broad range of stroke patients.