SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Covidien (NYSE: COV), a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced the launch of the HALO60 Ablation Catheter, the latest addition to the HALO family of catheters for the endoscopic treatment of Barrett’s esophagus. The HALO product line joined the Covidien portfolio earlier when the Company acquired BÂRRX Medical, a leader in the development of minimally invasive medical devices to remove potentially precancerous tissue from the gastrointestinal tract.
Barrett’s esophagus is a precancerous condition of the lining of the esophagus caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Left untreated, backward flow of stomach contents such as acid and bile into the esophagus can lead to injury and chronic inflammation of the esophagus lining. A proportion of GERD patients are at risk of developing Barrett’s esophagus, which can lead to esophageal adenocarcinoma, a lethal cancer with a five-year survival rate of approximately 15%.
The HALO60 Ablation Catheter is designed to be used independently or in conjunction with the commercially available HALO90 Ablation Catheter, a larger focal device, and HALO360+ Ablation Catheter, a balloon-based endoscopic ablation system for treating larger, circumferential areas of Barrett’s esophagus. All HALO products are based on patented technology that carefully controls the amount of energy delivered to the tissue to safely and effectively remove the diseased tissue and facilitate the re-growth of new, healthy tissue. Together, the products offer physicians a safe and convenient solution for the removal of Barrett’s esophagus. The HALO60 Ablation Catheter is now available in the U.S., Canada, Australia and select European countries, with additional availability expected later this year.
A majority of patients with Barrett’s esophagus have short segments of diseased tissue where the esophagus meets the stomach. Featuring a small electrode mounted on the end of an endoscope, the HALO60 – so named because it has approximately 60% of the surface area of the larger HALO90 focal device – has a smaller footprint to help the physician move the device easily and efficiently. It can ease intubation and extubation in difficult anatomy and also may help the physician maneuver around the gastroesophageal junction.
“The HALO60 System is an exciting development for patients with Barrett’s esophagus and for the gastroenterologists and endoscopic surgeons who care for these patients,” said Robert Haggerty, Vice President, Global Marketing, BÂRRX. “We are receiving very favorable feedback from clinicians who evaluated the device. Comments such as ‘easier to intubate patients’ and ‘improved maneuverability’ and ‘especially nice for patients with narrow esophagi’ are reinforcing the value of this product and how it will fit into the HALO toolkit. We also have received a positive response from physicians who treat bleeding conditions such as gastric antral vascular ectasia and radiation proctitis. They feel this smaller profile device can work effectively as a cautery tool to stop chronic bleeding.”
ABOUT COVIDIEN
Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien manufactures, distributes and services a diverse range of industry-leading product lines in three segments: Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies. With 2011 revenue of $11.6 billion, Covidien has 41,000 employees worldwide in more than 65 countries, and its products are sold in over 140 countries. Please visit www.covidien.com to learn more about our business.
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