# Enabling rapid and effective stroke thrombectomy procedures from a Transradial approach:  Combining introducer sheath, guide catheter, and distal access catheter into a single device.

> **NIH NIH R41** · CONWAY MEDICAL LLC · 2021 · $490,053

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This proposal’s long-term goal is to improve the care of patients suffering from Large Vessel Occlusion
Acute Ischemic stroke (LVO AIS). Emergent, catheter-based thrombectomy is an established treatment
for LVO AIS. Still, substantial limitations remain.
Rapid catheterization of distal, intracranial vessels represents an essential feature of successful
thrombectomy procedures. Given the advanced age of many or most thrombectomy candidates, highly
tortuous vessels are frequently encountered when traversing from the femoral to carotid territories. It has
been shown that substantial tortuosity leads to worse outcomes in transfemoral thrombectomy
procedures.
Thus, many leading interventionalists have proposed transradial access (TRA) in place of transfemoral
access. Within interventional cardiology, TRA is the preferred access site for the vast majority of patients,
given low rates of bleeding complications and ready access to the coronary circulation. The radial site
also provides ready access to the cerebral vasculature, bypassing tortuosity along the aortic arch,
descending aorta, and ilio-femoral system.
Many neurointerventionalists have embraced TRA for diagnostic procedures. However, even though TRA
would provide substantially easier access than transfemoral access for thrombectomy procedures in
patients with substantial tortuosity, few practitioners use TRA for treatment for these patients. The primary
impediment to expansion of TRA thrombectomy relates to an ongoing dearth of radial-specific access and
interventional tools, which must be customized to the small diameter of the radial artery as well as the
specific geometric challenges in navigating from the subclavian to carotid territories.
In this Phase 1 STTR program, we will develop and test a novel large-bore thrombectomy system
appropriate for TRA. Specifically, our Wrist-to-Brain thrombectomy system is a 3-in-1 device that
combines access sheath, guiding catheter, and distal access catheter in to a single device. This
innovation will require specific advances in direct arterial access, kink resistance, and distal suppleness. If
successful, our W2B thrombectomy system will enhance care of elderly patients with highly tortuous
vasculature who present with LVO AIS.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10254745
- **Project number:** 1R41NS122602-01
- **Recipient organization:** CONWAY MEDICAL LLC
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID F KALLMES
- **Activity code:** R41 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $490,053
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-15 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10254745

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10254745, Enabling rapid and effective stroke thrombectomy procedures from a Transradial approach:  Combining introducer sheath, guide catheter, and distal access catheter into a single device. (1R41NS122602-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10254745. Licensed CC0.

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