Terumo Neuro has announced the commercial availability of the Sofia 88 neurovascular support catheter in the USA, expanding the company’s stroke portfolio with a new large-bore catheter engineered for reliability, procedural flexibility, and physician control.
A company press release notes that this launch builds on the proven clinical performance and global legacy of the Sofia catheter line, which has supported more than 500,000 procedures across 170 countries over the past decade.
“Terumo Neuro’s Sofia 88 neurovascular support catheter is truly one of the best products in this category, especially when using a short 8Fr sheath,” said Ameer Hassan (Valley Baptist Neuroscience Institute, Harlingen, USA). “It has great trackability and it is improving my access whether I decide to use it to support an aspiration only or a combination approach—it really does improve my first-pass effect.”
Terumo Neuro states that its Sofia 88 neurovascular support catheter offers a 0.088-inch inner diameter with proprietary engineering enhancements designed to provide several benefits, including reliable trackability through challenging anatomy via optimised transition zones and a soft, atraumatic distal tip; proximal stability for procedural ease with both short and long sheaths; and flexibility and reinforcement throughout its entire working length to minimise vessel trauma and support smooth navigation.
“As we introduce the Sofia 88 neurovascular support catheter, we are building on a decade of performance that physicians around the world have come to trust,” said Carsten Schroeder, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Terumo Neuro. “This launch reflects our continued investment in neurovascular innovation, made possible through direct collaboration with physicians, and our strong R&D [research and development] and manufacturing capabilities. Together, we are delivering meaningful advancements in stroke care designed to improve outcomes for patients worldwide.”
The Sofia 88 neurovascular support catheter is compatible with the Sofia Flow Plus 6Fr aspiration catheter and supports integration into existing aspiration strategies, according to Terumo Neuro. The company’s recent release further details that clinical evidence from the SOFAST registry evaluating the Sofia Flow Plus 6Fr as a first-line approach have demonstrated strong results spanning speed, efficacy, safety, and overall clinical outcomes.
The new Sofia 88 catheter is also intended to “seamlessly” complement the company’s broader stroke solution portfolio, including—in addition to its Sofia and Sofia Flow Plus aspiration catheters—the Eric retrieval device, Bobby balloon guide catheter, Wedge and Headway microcatheters, and Traxcess guidewires.
