Peripheral artery disease (PAD) happens when plaque and calcium build up inside the arteries of the legs. This buildup narrows the arteries and limits blood flow, which can cause pain, limited mobility, and slow healing of wounds. Treating arteries that contain a large amount of calcium can be difficult because the calcium makes the artery wall stiff and hard to open with standard balloons or stents.
The FastWave Artero™ Peripheral Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) System is designed to improve treatment for people with moderate to severe calcium in their leg arteries. The system includes a generator and a small balloon catheter that emits short bursts of sound energy (lithotripsy). These sound waves gently fracture calcium deposits while protecting the softer tissue of the artery. After the calcium is cracked, the artery can be widened using low balloon pressure, which may help blood flow more easily and lower the risk of tearing or other damage.
This prospective, multi-center, single-arm clinical study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the FastWave Artero™ IVL System in adults with PAD who have calcified blockages in the femoral or popliteal arteries. The study will enroll up to 110 participants at as many as 30 U.S. investigational sites. All participants will receive the FastWave IVL treatment during a standard minimally invasive endovascular procedure.
The primary safety endpoint is the proportion of participants free from major adverse events (such as serious vessel injury, emergency surgery, or unplanned major amputation) through 30 days after the procedure.
The primary effectiveness endpoint is successful treatment of the blocked artery, defined as less than 50 percent narrowing remaining after IVL, with or without the use of additional devices.
Secondary assessments will include degree of residual narrowing (≤30%), use of adjunctive therapies, and improvements in vessel patency and clinical symptoms through 6 months. These data will also be used to compare outcomes to a historical performance goal based on prior intravascular lithotripsy studies in peripheral arteries.
Participants will be followed at discharge, 30 days, and 6 months to assess safety, vessel imaging, and symptom changes. A small number of sites will also participate in an optional intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) sub-study to collect detailed imaging data on how the FastWave device interacts with the artery wall.
Findings from this pivotal study are intended to support a future U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) submission for the FastWave Artero™ Peripheral IVL System as a treatment for calcified peripheral arterial disease.