Johnson & Johnson (J&J) announced today the global launch of its Shockwave C2 Aero coronary intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) catheter designed for improved deliverability, enhanced lesion crossing and new repositioning capabilities for the treatment of calcified coronary artery disease (CAD).
According to J&J, the next-generation coronary IVL catheter leverages Shockwave IVL’s “unique” mechanism of action and the safety and effectiveness profile of its legacy catheters, expanding the company’s IVL portfolio.
“Shockwave C2 Aero makes it easier to navigate tortuous coronary anatomy without relying on additional upfront ancillary devices. That enhanced deliverability and efficiency can change IVL use and expand its role in treatment algorithms,” said Margaret McEntegart (Columbia University Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, USA). “By continuing to address real unmet physician needs like deliverability, crossability and repositioning, Johnson & Johnson is pushing expectations for what the technology can achieve in complex PCI [percutaneous coronary intervention] procedures.”
J&J shares in a press release that Shockwave C2 Aero provides physicians with greater flexibility and efficiency in treatment strategy by:
- Enhancing deliverability through tight, tortuous arteries via more flexible shaft, balloon and marker bands.
- Easing entry and crossing of dense calcified deposits with its tapered tip and new hydrophilic coating.
- Allowing repositioning within the coronary anatomy to treat additional lesions due to the new balloon material designed for more compact deflation.
“In earlier iterations of the technology, physicians often had to rely on additional ancillary devices to achieve optimal positioning, and treatment was generally limited to a distal-to-proximal approach in coronary lesions,” said Benjamin Honton (Clinique Pasteur, Toulouse, France). “The balloon rewrap capability of the Shockwave C2 Aero enables easier repositioning, allowing both proximal and distal movement within the vessel, as well as lesion recrossing when needed. This added flexibility facilitates the treatment of more complex patterns of calcification and supports more tailored pulse delivery strategies, including in multivessel disease, expanding what can be achieved with intravascular lithotripsy.”
Shockwave C2 Aero has a working length of 138cm and features two emitters encased in an integrated balloon that fire simultaneously up to 120 pulses, delivering up to 240 shockwaves. Each pulse creates ultrasonic acoustic pressure waves that pass through soft tissue and crack hardened calcium in place, helping to re-establish blood flow in the blocked artery.
“We’re redefining standards for coronary IVL with more efficient and predictable overall procedures in challenging cases when it matters most,” said Isaac Zacharias, president, Shockwave Medical, MedTech, J&J. “As others prepare to enter the coronary IVL market, Johnson & Johnson is raising the bar with our fifth-generation platform built on years of physician feedback, sustained R&D [research and development] advancements and robust clinical validation of our unique mechanism of action that reinforce our IVL leadership.”
A press release advises that Shockwave C2 Aero is now available in the USA and Japan and will be available in Europe and Canada in the coming months. The next-generation coronary IVL technology will be featured in the booth from Shockwave Medical, part of Johnson & Johnson, at EuroPCR 2026 (19–22 May, Paris, France).
