FlowTriever Retrieval Aspiration System
FDA Clearance Information
The FlowTriever Retrieval Aspiration System by Inari Medical was cleared via the FDA 510(k) pathway on December 17, 2018. It is a Class 2 medical device.
What It Is
FDA-Cleared Indications
- The FlowTriever Retrieval Aspiration System is indicated for the percutaneous removal of thromboemboli and thrombus from the peripheral vasculature.
- The system is indicated for the treatment of pulmonary embolism through percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy and aspiration.
- Use is limited to the vessels, patient populations, catheter sizes and configurations described in the applicable FDA-cleared labeling.
Clinical Applications
- Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy for selected pulmonary embolism patients.
- Aspiration and mechanical removal of thrombus from the pulmonary arteries.
- Percutaneous removal of thrombus from selected peripheral vessels when the applicable FlowTriever configuration is indicated.
- Treatment in a hospital catheterization laboratory when rapid clot removal is needed or thrombolytic therapy is unsuitable or contraindicated.
Reported off-label uses
- Use for selected deep vein thrombosis in peripheral veins may occur in clinical practice, but the exact indication depends on the device configuration and current labeling.
- Use in other large-vessel venous thromboses outside the cleared indication has been reported, but it should be considered off-label and evaluated by an experienced specialist.
Off-label use: these uses are reported in practice or the literature but are not part of the FDA-cleared indications. Physicians may use a cleared device off-label based on their medical judgment; the manufacturer may not promote off-label uses.
Practical Considerations
- The system includes different catheter and sheath sizes; selection depends on vessel diameter, clot burden, access anatomy and the specific cleared product configuration.
- Access is commonly obtained through the femoral or internal jugular vein, with fluoroscopic guidance and large-bore venous access.
- Procedures require clinicians trained in large-bore catheter techniques, aspiration thrombectomy and management of potential bleeding or vascular injury.
- The device is not itself an MRI implant. MRI eligibility depends on any retained components, access-site materials and the current product-specific MRI labeling; the treating team should verify this before scanning.
- Potential complications include access-site bleeding, vascular injury, arrhythmia, pulmonary artery injury, blood loss, contrast-related complications and incomplete clot removal. Patient-specific contraindications and warnings are listed in the manufacturer's instructions for use.
Related Literature
Procedures that use this device
Linked Studies (14)
Percutaneous Aspiration of a Large Mitral Valve Vegetation With Full-Body Protection: A Novel Approach.
JACC. Case reports
RCT|prospective|retrospective|case Series|other View Source →Novel percutaneous aspiration thrombectomy in Fontan conduit obstruction with cardiogenic shock. Case report.
International journal of cardiology. Congenital heart disease
Case Report View Source →Early Experience Using Venous Sheath With Embolic Protection During Thrombectomy of Inferior Vena Cava and Complex Iliofemoral Deep Vein Thrombosis.
The American surgeon
Case Series View Source →Percutaneous pulmonary aspiration thrombectomy in an adolescent fontan patient using a large-bore system.
Catheterization and cardiovascular interventions : official journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions
Other View Source →[Interventional therapy of pulmonary embolism - update].
Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)
RCT|prospective|retrospective|case Series|other View Source →Procedure-Related Mortality in Aspiration Thrombectomy for Pulmonary Embolism: A MAUDE Database Analysis of the Inari FlowTriever and Penumbra Indigo Systems.
Journal of endovascular therapy : an official journal of the International Society of Endovascular Specialists
RCT|prospective|retrospective|case Series|other View Source →Outcomes in High-Risk Pulmonary Embolism Patients Undergoing FlowTriever Mechanical Thrombectomy or Other Contemporary Therapies: Results From the FLAME Study.
Circulation. Cardiovascular interventions
RCT|prospective|retrospective|case Series|other View Source →Mechanical thrombectomy of inferior vena cava filter-associated caval thrombosis using FlowTriever and ClotTriever systems.
Journal of vascular surgery. Venous and lymphatic disorders
Other View Source →Percutaneous FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System for Impending Paradoxical Embolism: A New Tool?
JACC. Cardiovascular interventions
View Source →A Novel Case of Cardiac Tamponade after Percutaneous Pulmonary Embolectomy Using the FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System.
European journal of case reports in internal medicine
RCT|prospective|retrospective|case Series|other View Source →A Prospective, Single-Arm, Multicenter Trial of Catheter-Directed Mechanical Thrombectomy for Intermediate-Risk Acute Pulmonary Embolism: The FLARE Study.
JACC. Cardiovascular interventions
RCT|prospective|retrospective|case Series|other View Source →Percutaneous Pulmonary Embolectomy Using the FlowTriever Retrieval/Aspiration System.
Journal of vascular and interventional radiology : JVIR
View Source →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FlowTriever Retrieval Aspiration System used for?
It is used for mechanically removing blood clots from the pulmonary arteries in patients with pulmonary embolism.
What specialties typically use this device?
Interventional radiologists and cardiologists typically use this device in hospital settings.
What are the FDA-cleared indications?
The device is cleared for use in patients with pulmonary embolism who have a significant clot burden and are at intermediate to high risk.