Surmodics has initiated a full commercial release of its Pounce XL thrombectomy system for acute or chronic clot removal.
Available through a limited market release since January 2025, Pounce XL received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2024. The system is indicated for use in removing clots from peripheral arteries ranging from 5.5mm to 10mm, the typical diameter range of iliac and femoral arteries.
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Sharing her experience of using Pounce XL during the limited market release, Dr Anna Marjan, a vascular surgeon at Allina Health Mercy Hospital in Minnesota said large amounts of acute and subacute clots were able to be extracted from the infrarenal aorta and common iliac arteries in a severely ischaemic patient with “just three passes” of the device.
“Avoiding surgical cutdown reduces the need for general anaesthesia and reduces the risk of surgical-site infection, which benefits patients,” Marjan said.
Pounce XL complements Surmodics’ existing Pounce thrombectomy platform, which comprises the Pounce and Pounce LP thrombectomy systems, intended for use in 3.5mm–6mm and 2mm–4mm peripheral arteries respectively.
Each of the platform’s systems eliminates the need for capital equipment or aspiration and reduces the reliance on thrombolytics.
Surmodics president and CEO Gary Maharaj commented: “The addition of the Pounce XL Thrombectomy System fulfils our vision of providing a simple, effective platform for removing peripheral arterial blood clots throughout the leg.
“When minutes matter, physicians appreciate the availability of a readily deployable solution with a track record of dependable and safe results.”
In addition to its presence in the thrombectomy space, Surmodics is the largest player in the manufacturer of hydrophilic coatings used on devices such as catheters.
In May 2024, Surmodics signed a $627m deal to be acquired by GTCR. However, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently sued to block the acquisition.
Given that GTCR owns a majority stake in Biocoat, the second largest player in the hydrophilic coating space, the FTC said the proposed deal amounted to an ‘unlawful acquisition’ due to the “fierce competition” that exists between the two companies.
