Ra Medical Systems today said it received a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a support catheter used with a small flexible liquid core catheter for laser ablation.

The Carlsbad, California-based company was granted its 10th patent for the support catheter that is to be used in conjunction with the Dabra liquid core ablation catheter. Ra Medical designed it for use in laser ablation of arterial plaque blockages to restore blood flow.

Studies conducted by the company have demonstrated the use of combining the Dabra ablation catheters with support catheters in navigating difficult peripheral vasculature.

“We now have patent protection for a support catheter that could expand the range of solutions for physicians who want to utilize our Dabra liquid core ablation catheters in challenging anatomies,” CEO Will McGuire said in a news release. “We believe this patent expands our strong intellectual property portfolio, which will be beneficial when we return the Dabra excimer laser system to full commercialization.”

Darba was cleared by the FDA for crossing chronic total occlusions in patients with symptomatic infrainguinal lower extremity vascular disease. It has an intended use for ablating a channel in occlusive peripheral vascular disease.