Vascular Center
	Our Surgeons
	Deep Vein Thrombosis
	SilverHawk® technology
	SilverHawk® video

Contact
301-790-8570

A new treatment for peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

There is a new minimally invasive treatment called SilverHawk® that is very effective at removing fatty deposits, also known as plaque, which can build up on the inner linings of artery walls in a person’s legs.  This buildup of plaque in the arteries is called peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, which can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, amputation, or death if left untreated.

The Plaque Excision Procedure

Plaque excision is a minimally invasive procedure performed through a small puncture site in the leg or arm. The SilverHawk® technology uses a tiny rotating blade to shave away plaque from inside the artery. As it is shaved off, the plaque collects in the tip of the device and then is removed from the patient.

Plaque excision has helped alleviate severe leg pain for thousands of patients, and in many cases it has successfully saved the legs of patients who were scheduled for limb amputation after other treatments failed.

How Plaque Excision Works

1. The SilverHawk catheter is inserted into the body through a small puncture site. The doctor pushes it along inside the artery until it reaches the site of the blockage.

2. Once the SilverHawk catheter is at the site of the blockage, a tiny rotating blade is activated. As the physician advances the catheter through the blockage, it shaves plaque off of the artery walls.



3. The plaque collects in the nosecone (tip) of the catheter and then is completely removed from the body. The physician may need to repeat these steps until enough plaque is removed to restore normal blood flow to the legs.

The SilverHawk® Plaque Excision System catheter

Precise and Predictable

Through a unique hinge design, the carbide blade is exposed at a fixed height during the procedure. This fixed height ensures that the plaque shaved off the artery’s walls are thin enough to be easily stored in the end of the device. The catheter is made of materials that allow surgeons a clear view of the blade and collection chamber during the procedure.

Massive Tissue Capture

		The SilverHawk is the first technology of its kind to remove significant amounts of atherosclerotic tissue (plaque) from long, diffusely diseased lesions. When the nosecone is full, the device can be removed, cleaned, and re-inserted to treat additional areas within the same lesion or additional lesions. The device consistently removes hundreds of milligrams of tissue to restore blood flow.
Atherosclerotic tissue (plaque) removed from an artery by the SilverHawk catheter.

Safety

Due to its unique design, the catheter removes significant amounts of plaque without overstretching and injuring the blood vessel. Vessel overstretch, known as barotrauma, can lead to a dangerous tear in the artery.
		A physician empties the SilverHawk catheter.

To Obtain a Referral

If you are interested in the Silver Hawk procedure ask your doctor if he or she believes it would be an appropriate treatment.  Endovascular surgeon, William Su, MD performs the procedure at  Washington County Hospital.  To schedule a consultation, call Dr. Su’s office at phone: 301-714-4335.

Free screenings for PAD

The clinicians at Washington County Hospital regularly perform screenings for PAD.  For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 301-790-8627 or send an inquiry below.