VINELAND - The Vascular Institute at Atlantic Medical Imaging announced it has successfully implanted Espirit™ BTK System, a first-of-its-kind dissolvable stent for people with the most extreme form of limb-threatening peripheral artery disease for arteries below the knee. Dr. Mike Watts successfully placed this novel stent during treatment of a patient with chronic limb threatening ischemia.
Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Association in April 2024, the Espirit BTK System is designed to keep arteries open and deliver a drug called Everolimus to support vessel healing prior to dissolving.
“We were happy to have been a part of the clinical trial evaluating this cutting-edge technology and are pleased to have helped Abbott obtain their FDA approval. This bio-resorbable stent is truly a major step forward in below-the-knee treatment of CLTI” Director of the Vascular Institute Dr. Nicholas Petruzzi said. “At the Vascular Institute we are always striving to give our patients the latest technological advancements to treat chronic limb-threatening ischemia and nonhealing wounds. We are also proud to have been the first in the South Jersey/Pennsylvania region, and the first outpatient facility in the nation to successfully perform this procedure.”
The Espirit BTK System is comprised of materials similar to dissolving sutures. Once the blockage is open, the device is implanted through a catheter-based minimally invasive procedure. The scaffold delivers the drug and provides support while the vessel heals until the vessel is strong enough to remain open on its own.
Chronic limb-threatening ischemia is a severe form of PAD that occurs when arteries become clogged with plaque, and blood flow and oxygen can’t reach the lower leg and foot. Over 20 million people in the U.S. are living with PAD and only 10% of those people have been diagnosed. PAD disproportionately affects the Black and Hispanic communities with nearly one in three Black adults and one in five Hispanic adults developing the disease.
The endovascular surgical specialists at the Vascular Institute at AMI serve Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Monmouth counties and surrounding areas. For more information visit www.vi-ami.com.
