OhioHealth Interventional Cardiologist First in Ohio To Use Groundbreaking FDA-Cleared Removable Stent Technology

OhioHealth Interventional Cardiologist, John Phillips, MD, at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, has become the first physician in Ohio to perform a patient procedure using a new, FDA-cleared medical device called the SPUR® Retrievable Stent System. This new technology could significantly improve treatment for people with severe artery disease in the legs. The SPUR® stent was recently granted approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is a major advancement in treating patients who have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, conditions that could lead to dangerous blockages in the small arteries below the knee.

SPUR is designed to open blocked arteries and then be removed, unlike traditional stents that remain in the body. Through this procedure, blood can flow through better without leaving behind an implant. This is especially important for patients who are at higher risk of complications due to any underlying health conditions.

“This is a real game-changer for patients who previously had limited options,” said Dr. Phillips. “We now have a tool that can restore blood flow in hard-to-treat areas without the long-term risks associated with permanent stents.”

The SPUR® stent system works by using a balloon and tiny expandable spikes that help open the artery, clear the blockage and reshape the vessel to improve blood flow. It’s a more targeted and temporary approach that aims to advance healing and reduce long-term complications.

 “We are very proud that Dr. John Phillips and our OhioHealth team were able to perform the first peripheral intervention in Ohio utilizing the recently approved, novel SPUR system for treatment of peripheral arterial disease in the smaller tibial vessels,” said D. Chris Metzger, MD, OhioHealth system vascular chief. “This device offers the potential for a “stent-like” result without the need for a permanent implant, a significant advantage to many patients in the critical limb threatening ischemia population. OhioHealth is committed to utilizing cutting edge technologies for use in our patients as we treat their peripheral vascular disease”.

Dr. Phillips’ use of this breakthrough technology highlights OhioHealth’s commitment to pioneering solutions that enhance patient care and improve outcomes for high-risk individuals facing limb-threatening vascular disease.