St. Jude Catheter Gets FDA Nod

St. Jude Medical of St. Paul, MN has received FDA approval for its Venture Wire Control Catheter for use with a rapid exchange system for coronary procedures

The device is designed to hold open clogged arteries prior to the installation of a stent or balloon. The approval means the device can be used with the rapid exchange system, which uses a shorter guidewire threaded across the artery.

The Venture catheter was first approved in 2005 for use with an over-the-wire system.