Bluegrass Vascular Announces Publication Reporting Long-term data following facilitation of HeRO® graft placement using the Surfacer® System

San Antonio, TX – Bluegrass Vascular Technologies, a private medical technology company focused on innovating lifesaving devices and methods for vascular access procedures, announced today the publication of a report three cases where the Surfacer System was used to help facilitate the placement of the HeRO graft in patients with thoracic central venous obstruction (TCVO) where other methods for crossing the obstruction had failed. The paper, published in the  Journal of Vascular Access, demonstrated the ability to gain long-term vascular access without any significant complications or adverse events from the procedure with the benefit of avoiding the placement of a femoral catheter with its associated disadvantages.

“This peer-reviewed paper further demonstrates the versatility the Surfacer System has relative to achieving central venous access in patients with central venous obstructions,” stated Gabriele Niederauer, Ph.D., CEO and President of Bluegrass Vascular. “The ability to utilize the Surfacer System to help facilitate the placement of the HeRO graft as a means of permanent arteriovenous (AV) access and avoid the placement of a femoral catheter reinforces the clinical value the device offers to patients on hemodialysis therapy.”

About the Surfacer® Inside-Out® Access Catheter System

The Surfacer System is designed to reliably, efficiently and repeatedly gain central venous access by inserting the Surfacer System through the right femoral vein and navigating it up through the patient’s venous system with an exit point in the right internal jugular vein, the optimal location for placing a central venous catheter. This proprietary Inside-Out approach allows for the placement and maturation of permanent arteriovenous access options that are associated with improved patient outcomes and reduced cost of care for both hospitals and hemodialysis providers. The Surfacer System has received FDA De Novo device clearance in the US and is CE marked in Europe.  The device is currently distributed in North America and Europe by  Merit Medical, a global manufacturer and distributor of medical devices.

About Bluegrass Vascular Technologies

Bluegrass Vascular Technologies is a medical technology company dedicated to developing and commercializing lifesaving devices and methods that address shortcomings in vascular access procedures. For more information, please visit bluegrassvascular.com.