W.L. Gore this week announced it has launched its lower profile, large diameter Gore ViaBahn Endoprosthesis.

The device design reduces the delivery profile for larger 9-13 mm diameter stent grafts by up to 3 Fr to enable delivery through smaller sheaths. The smaller introducer sheaths result in a lower risk of vascular access complications and new radiopaque markers on the distal and proximal ends enhance visualization under fluoroscopy for better positioning and device delivery.

“In addition to the radiopaque markers that facilitate positioning and deployment, the new lower profile enables use of a smaller sheath, potentially reducing the risk of damage at the access site,” Yevgeniy Rits, chief and program director of vascular surgery at Wayne State University and Detroit Medical Center, said in a news release. “Combined with the trackability and flexibility I’ve always trusted with ViaBahn devices, this new lower profile offering will become very instrumental in my dialysis access practice.”

Gore ViaBahn Endoprosthesis originally launched in 2002 and has since evolved with numerous enhancements and has supported thousands of patients worldwide, according to the company. It is indicated for use in superficial femoral artery lesions, iliac lesions, in-stent restenosis of SFA lesions and in stenosis or thrombotic occlusion at the venous anastomosis of synthetic arteriovenous access grafts for hemodialysis.