Johnson & Johnson announced the global launch of the Shockwave C2 Aero Coronary IVL Catheter. The device treats calcified coronary artery disease. The Shockwave C2 Aero Coronary IVL Catheter improves deliverability, lesion crossing, and repositioning capabilities during procedures. The company said the next-generation catheter expands its intravascular lithotripsy portfolio for complex coronary interventions.
The company stated that coronary artery disease affects an estimated 315 million people globally. It also noted that calcium buildup in arteries creates treatment challenges during interventions. The Shockwave C2 Aero Coronary IVL Catheter uses ultrasonic acoustic pressure waves to crack hardened calcium. The technology also restores blood flow in blocked arteries.
Margaret McEntegart, M.D., Ph.D., spoke about the device during the announcement. She said, “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.” She also stated, “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 procedures.”
Enhanced Features for Complex Coronary Procedures
Johnson & Johnson said the device offers improved flexibility through a more flexible shaft, balloon, and marker bands. The catheter also includes a tapered tip and hydrophilic coating. These features help ease entry across dense calcified deposits. The company added that the new balloon material supports repositioning within the coronary anatomy. This helps physicians treat additional lesions.
Benjamin Honton, M.D., Interventional Cardiologist at Clinique Pasteur, Toulouse, France, stated, “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.” He added, “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.”
“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, Johnson & Johnson. “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 advancements, and robust clinical validation of our unique mechanism of action that reinforces our IVL leadership.”
The Shockwave C2 Aero Coronary IVL Catheter has a working length of 138 centimeters. It also delivers up to 240 Shockwaves. Johnson & Johnson confirmed that the device is now available in the United States and Japan. The company plans expansion into Europe and Canada in the coming months. The technology will also appear at EuroPCR 2026 in Paris from May 19 to May 22, 2026.
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News Source: Businesswire.com
