Perfuze Catheter Outperformed Rivals in Bench Study
The Millipede88 device achieved higher success rates in laboratory tests for clearing artery blockages.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Stroke
Live Poll
Do you trust that new medical device breakthroughs significantly improve patient outcomes?
Perfuze's 0.088-inch Millipede88 catheter demonstrated superior performance in clearing middle cerebral artery blockages during recent bench testing. The device achieved an 88% first-pass success rate, surpassing both conventional and cyclic aspiration techniques.
Why it matters
Improving revascularization success rates is critical for treating large vessel occlusions, which are primary drivers of stroke-related disability. Enhanced catheter technology aims to restore blood flow faster and more reliably in emergency clinical settings.
The Millipede88 achieved an 88% first-pass success rate against 34 ovine clot analogs per arm. It also demonstrated a 91% final complete revascularization rate within three passes.
The players
Perfuze
This Galway, Ireland-based medical device company specializes in developing advanced neurovascular catheters for stroke treatment.
The details
Researchers utilized in vitro models of large vessel occlusions to test the device, incorporating silicone representations of human anatomy like the Circle of Willis and the aortic arch. The Millipede88 also achieved an 82% rate of complete clot ingestion during the trials.
Timeline
March 2026: Millipede88 received FDA clearance.
2025: Perfuze secured Zipline catheter clearance and $24 million in funding.
The Big Picture
This development follows the rigorous standards established by the FDA 510(k) medical device clearance process. The performance metrics reported here mark a technical evolution in how aspiration hardware is validated before broader clinical adoption.
The introduction of higher-efficiency catheters aims to reduce the time required to clear arterial blockages during stroke interventions. These technical improvements may lead to better neurological outcomes by increasing the probability of successful revascularization during the first attempt.
The takeaway
Advancements in catheter engineering are narrowing the gap between mechanical hardware capabilities and the complex anatomical challenges of stroke. As Perfuze rolls out the Millipede88, the focus remains on consistent performance in restoring blood flow.
Further reading
For more information on the latest innovations in neurovascular care, visit the Stroke section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MassDevice.
Live Poll
Do you trust that new medical device breakthroughs significantly improve patient outcomes?
