9. SoniVie: Tivus renal artery denervation tech
SoniVie won FDA breakthrough device designation for its Tivus renal artery denervation technology in December. The technology is designed to treat resistant hypertension through renal artery denervation.
Tivus (therapeutic intra-vascular ultrasound system) is a catheter-based technology that can cause denervation of nerves surrounding blood vessels and other structures like the bronchus.
The catheter technology generates non-focused ultrasound waves that pass through flowing blood and through the wall of the artery where the nerve bundles absorb the energy. Once the nerves are heated to the point of necrosis, they lose their ability to pass signals.
Tivus’s ablation results in a decrease in sympathetic hormones that are released from the nerves. This relaxes the blood vessels, reducing resistance and pressure in them. In pulmonary hypertensive patients, the technology reduces the resistance in the right side of the heart.
