Medical device startup Vascugenix has seen its signature product, the Speed Torque, utilized by a U.S. health system for the first time.
Baptist Health served as the launch site for the Speed Torque when Dr. Dwight Crisman used the device to perform a coronary artery intervention on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Baptist Health Medical Center – Little Rock. A cardiologist at Baptist Health, Chrisman is also the chief medical officer of Vascugenix and the inventor of the Speed Torque.
“We have been working for several years to bring this device to patients,” Chrisman said in a statement. “Having a guidewire that can be manipulated comfortably with one hand will ultimately save procedure time, money and improve patient safety. Our next focus is to get this into the hands of physicians working in cath labs around the country.”
Chrisman invented the Speed Torgue to increase cardiovascular procedures’ safety and efficiency by improving guidewire manipulation during the procedures. With this device, physicians can manipulate the guidewire with one hand and use toggles to lock and unlock wires without maintaining constant pressure.
By contrast, the traditional method of manipulating guidewires requires two hands.
Vascugenix has had significant success as a startup, participating in the Arkansas Governor’s Cup, the Rice Business Plan Competition and other prestigious competitions.
In September 2020, the company announced its plans to introduce the Speed Torque to the U.S. market. Vascugenix partnered with medical device design company Gilero to develop and commercialize Speed Torque, as well as Medacys, a medical devices manufacturer based in Shenzen, China that provides injection molding services.
“Vascugenix has worked closely with Gilero over the past nine months to develop and commercialize the Speed-Torque. Bringing a new device to the market during the COVID pandemic has been challenging, but Gilero and Vascugenix have worked closely together to make it happen,” Vascugenix chief operating officer Martial Trigeaud said.
READ MORE: Vascugenix Has a Winning Formula
