Hotspur Technology's Novel 3-in-1 Angioplasty Balloon Successfully Achieves First Commercial Deployment

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Dec. 23, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Hotspur Technologies, Inc. announced today that Guy Mayeda, MD, interventional cardiologist at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, California, performed the first commercial deployment of the company's IQCath™ Balloon Dilatation Catheter. This new device enables, for the first time, performance of three complex vascular procedures with one single catheter, potentially reducing procedure time and expense for both patients and medical professionals.

"The IQCath brings much needed efficiency and innovation to dialysis graft revascularization procedures. The ability to perform balloon angioplasty, embolectomy, local drug delivery, and angiography with a single device should shorten procedure times, as well as reduce radiation exposure to both the operator and patients," said Dr. Mayeda.

The IQCath is a three-in-one device that allows physicians to perform high-pressure angioplasty, inject fluids such as contrast, and perform embolectomy while maintaining guidewire position. During this procedure, Dr. Mayeda brought the 5mm balloon to its RBP of 16 atmospheres ten times and performed five intermittent contrast injections while utilizing the same catheter. In the past, in these types of medical procedures, physicians typically have had to use multiple catheters to open the blood vessels, which can be time-consuming and expensive. Hotspur's products enable insertion of only one catheter for the entire procedure.

The IQCath is one of Hotspur's first three devices that have received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These three new Hotspur devices are focused on solving some of the key challenges associated with restoring blood flow to blocked or low flow dialysis access grafts and fistulaes and peripheral vessels.

"We have heard from physicians that they need devices that are purpose-designed for the many peripheral access procedures they perform regularly – rather than having to repurpose a variety of legacy devices designed for other procedures," said Gwen Watanabe, president and CEO of Hotspur. "We are committed to responding to this need and bringing high quality and efficient devices to a very broad and currently underserved market." Watanabe indicated that, based on the company's analysis, there are as many of 800,000 procedures performed annually that could benefit from this multi- purpose approach to catheter design for the peripheral access market.

In addition to the IQCath, Hotspur has also gained 510(k) clearance for two additional innovative balloon technologies. The GPSCath™ Balloon Dilatation Catheter follows the lead of the IQCath Balloon Dilatation Catheter as a specialty two-in-one device that allows the physician to conduct angioplasty and inject fluid while maintaining guidewire position. The Keeper™ Embolectomy Catheter is another two-in-one device which integrates an embolectomy balloon with the ability to inject physician-specified fluids while maintaining guidewire position.

These products are commercially available and are based on Hotspur's unique technologies designed to potentially make dialysis access and peripheral vascular interventions that are less invasive for patients, less expensive and more efficient for staff and facilities.

The foundation of all three of Hotspur's first commercial devices is a unique and groundbreaking technology, known as the VisioValve™ injection system. This innovation utilizes a proprietary valve system that allows a physician to perform angioplasty or clot removal and perform an injection of physician-specified fluids without having to remove the guidewire or exchange devices. Hotspur expects to develop a variety of other treatment devices based on this technology.

About Hotspur Technologies

Founded in 2008 and located in Mountain View, California, Hotspur Technologies (www.hotspur-inc.com) is a leading developer of catheter-based technologies aimed at restoring blood flow for patients with obstructed vessels. The company's products are based on a unique technology that opens blood vessels more efficiently and less invasively. The firm's VisioValve technology serves as a launching point to improve patient outcome and physician efficiency. Hotspur is privately held. Its investors include ONSET Ventures, Finistere Ventures, BioStar Ventures, Saratoga Ventures, Incept, G- Level, and Versant Ventures.

Editors, note: All trademarks and registered trademarks are those of their respective companies. Additional background information is available at www.roeder-johnson.com.

SOURCE Hotspur Technologies, Inc.