Merit Medical Systems, a global leader of healthcare technology, announced the US commercial release of the Prelude Wave™ Hydrophilic Sheath Introducer with SnapFix™ Securement Technology.

The Prelude Wave is the latest innovation in Merit’s comprehensive Access portfolio, which includes a wide range of dilators, micro-access systems, sheath introducers, and guide sheaths. A low-profile, hydrophilic sheath with best-in-class insertion and sheath retention, the Prelude Wave with SnapFix technology is designed with features which may aid in the reduction of arterial spasm and occlusion as physicians perform radial access procedures.

Radial access offers many well-documented benefits compared to the femoral approach, but there remain opportunities to improve patient outcomes, as radial artery spasm (narrowing) and occlusion (blockage) can still occur.

Radial artery spasm is reported in up to 20 per cent of patients, and approximately 4.6 per cent will have a radial artery occlusion, both of which can lead to patient discomfort and other complications. Sheath features, such as a hydrophilic coating, a low profile, and tapered transitions, have been shown to help reduce the risks of radial artery spasm and occlusion as well as improve patient comfort.

In addition, securement devices utilised to stabilise hydrophilic sheaths during procedures have been linked to reported issues in 30 per cent of cases, leading to procedural inefficiency. A securement device specifically developed for sheaths may help alleviate the challenges physicians face.