SIR Today

The goal of clot removal is to be quick, effective, and targeted. This is at the core of Argon’s CLEANER Vac™ Thrombectomy System design.

CLEANER Vac, a large-bore, fully sterile aspiration system, empowers physicians with an adaptable, one-stop solution for safe and thorough clot removal.

The mobile battery powered vacuum aspiration cannister,  along with the 18F catheter, are key features that physicians say set it apart amongst other thrombectomy systems. However, it’s not just the technology that they find appealing—it’s everything that comes along with using CLEANER Vac.

POWERFUL

“I was surprised that despite having a small, simple cannister, it still yields the same aspiration power as bigger products,” said Melhem Ghaleb, MD, an interventional radiologist from Texas.

CLEANER Vac’s power is what enables on-demand aspiration, which is controlled via a simple user-controlled lever for instant suction, that keeps the physician directly in control.

That on-demand control also makes CLEANER Vac an ideal choice. As physicians begin targeting smaller and smaller veins, they often find that with too much uncontrolled aspiration power, the vein may collapse.

“But if you’re able to control the amount of power—fully control the aspiration at each moment—then you can mitigate that,” said Ilan Rzadkowolsky-Raoli, MD, of Florida.

ADAPTABLE

The system is also designed to allow physicians to adapt easily across a wide array of access scenarios.

“Because the catheter is 115cm long, it allows us to remove clots from any approach we take,” said Dr. Ghaleb. “If I choose to use the jugular vein in the neck or even go in from behind the knee—no matter what access I choose, the length of the device will allow me to reach and remove clots.”

By being adaptable to any access site, it means physicians do not have to keep a wide inventory of catheter sizes.

“It’s like one size fits all,” Dr. Ghaleb said.

The catheter is also one of Dr. Rzadkowolsky-Raoli’s favorite features.

“The catheter itself is so flexible, yet at the same time has enough stiffness to navigate through areas of stenosis. I can even use the catheter without a sheath, which saves time during the procedure,” he added.

“If I dilate the access site, I can use the catheter bareback. This can potentially limit you to one aspiration pass, but generally I’m able to remove the entire thrombus load in just one,” he said.

ACCESSIBLE

For Dr. Ghaleb, one of the key benefits of the CLEANER Vac system is how accessible it is, regardless of practice type.

“It is a very intuitive and efficient system. It’s lightweight and can be placed within the sterile field without requiring other major connections or external components. It does not require significant capital investments,” he said.

Because of this, and the system’s versatility, Dr. Ghaleb believes that CLEANER Vac is an appealing choice for vascular practices.

GOLD STANDARD

Within months of beginning to use CLEANER Vac, Dr. Rzadkowolsky-Raoli said it has substantially improved his workflow and efficiency.

“For me, it really comes down to time,” he said. Dr. Rzadkowolsky-Raoli is the single interventional radiologist at a private practice that serves a 400-bed hospital, which means all IR patients funnel through him. “I’m responsible for everything—so if a device can get the job done safely and quickly, it’s at the top of my list.”

Dr. Rzadkowolsky-Raoli says that using the CLEANER Vac system has enabled him to complete cases in under 20-30 minutes. “It allows me to treat as many patients as needed in a quick and safe manner with great outcomes,” he said. “To me, that is the gold standard.”

Want to learn more about CLEANER Vac? Stop by the Argon’s booth in the Expo, at booth 728.

Disclaimer: This article is sponsored by an SIR Corporate Partner and does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of SIR. SIR assumes no liability, legal, financial or otherwise, for the accuracy of information in this article or the manner in which it is used. The statements made in the column are not intended to set a standard of care and should not be treated as medical advice nor as a substitute for independent, professional judgment.