About TIVUS™
TIVUS (Therapeutic Intravascular Ultrasound) is an intravascular, catheter-based technology that can cause denervation of nerves surrounding blood vessels and other structures like the bronchus.
The catheter generates non-focused ultrasound waves that pass through the flowing blood and through the wall of the artery where the energy is taken up by the tissue outside of the blood vessel, specifically the nerve bundles. It results in the nerves being heated to the point of causing necrosis and the nerves effectively become ablated, losing their ability to pass signals. This results in a decrease in sympathetic hormones that are released from the nerves. This reduction in hormones results in the blood vessels relaxing, reducing the resistance in the vessels, reducing the pressure in the vessels and in pulmonary hypertension, reduces the resistance in the right side of the heart, potentially leading to improvements in exercise tolerance.1
SoniVie has received a Breakthrough Device Designation from the FDA for TIVUS in the treatment of PAH and for the treatment of Resistant Hypertension, defined as persistent high blood pressure greater than 140/90 mmHg despite use of three antihypertensive medications of different classes at the best tolerated doses, one of which must be a diuretic.
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- Data on file.