U.S.-based Xenter has recently unveiled a new dual-sensor investigational guidewire for use during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures. The wireless product poses potential competition to traditional guidewires in the rapidly growing TAVR market, which is set to reach $18.8 billion in 2033, forecasts GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
The dual sensor guidewire allows for collection of real-time data points, which can provide an aortic regurgitation (AR) measurement and serve as a clinical decision support tool to improve the prediction of para valvular leak (PVL). Although guidewires make up a smaller portion of TAVR overall, this could have a noticeable impact on the future positions of Boston Scientific and Medtronic who have products in this segment.
Aidan Robertson, Medical Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “PVL is a common concern for complications when it comes to TAVR procedures. New products which can aid in accurately predicting these outcomes will become increasingly important and may garner considerable interest from hospitals and healthcare practitioners.”
In the TAVR market, currently Boston Scientific and Medtronic primarily occupy the guidewire space. Boston Scientific leads with Safari 2 and Medtronic with Confida.
Robertson continues: “As a result of the clear advantages of implementing Xenter’s smart guidewire, the traditional guidewire could eventually be rendered obsolete which may threaten both Boston Scientific’s and Medtronic’s TAVR market position. While Medtronic still produces revenue from other products in TAVR, a substantial portion of Boston Scientific’s TAVR revenue comes from guidewires and would therefore put them in a riskier circumstance.”
With the increasing prevalence of aortic stenosis due to aging populations and the general shift towards minimally invasive procedures, the demand for TAVR procedures is exponentially growing and will warrant more innovative methods to improve patient outcomes such as the wireless guidewire. As the market for TAVR procedures continues to grow we may see companies begin to put out products like Xenter’s guidewire to remain competitive.
Robertson concludes: “While unveiling the smart guidewire may not immediately impact the TAVR market and more specifically Boston Scientific and Medtronic, it certainly has the potential to alter market positions if utilizing this new technology becomes more commonplace for these medical procedures.”
