New mechanical intravascular lithotripsy system emerges as interventional cardiologists’ preferred choiceJanuary 30, 2026
LithiX marks a PCI advancement, offering versatile treatment of complex calcified lesions through simplified workflow, using a single device per procedure, even for long lesions.
The LithiX Hertz Contact (HC) Intravascular Lithotripsy system, a novel mechanical lithotripsy system, is quickly becoming the preferred calcium-modification tool for severely calcified coronary artery disease (CAD) in leading hospitals across Malaysia.
Nearly 30 percent of patients undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) present with calcified coronary lesions (CCLs). CCLs can considerably reduce the success rate of PCIs, as they prevent a stent or bioadaptor from expanding properly once inserted, increasing the risk of blood clots and restenosis in the long run. LithiX represents an important advancement in PCI. Its notable advantages include versatility and high treatment effect in modifying the most complex calcified lesions using a simpler procedure flow, with only a single device used per procedure, even for multiple and long lesions. Dr Rosli Mohd Ali, consultant cardiologist at CVSKL and co-principal investigator of the MY-IVL study added, “The use of LithiX HC-IVL allows us to achieve very good stent expansion, particularly in challenging calcified lesions, which is critical for optimal long-term outcomes.” The MY-IVL “Real World” study, presented at the recent TCT 2025 (Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics) in California, USA, evaluated 102 consecutive complex patients (130 lesions) treated with LithiX HC-IVL between April and September 2025 – including eccentric, nodular and protruding calcium, where traditional energy-based IVL, atherectomy and scoring/cutting balloons have shown significant limitations. In the study, LithiX achieved 96.1% freedom from major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at 30 days and mean minimum stent area (MSA) of 100%, across all calcification morphologies. Developed by Elixir Medical Corporation, LithiX has been adopted by several leading public and private hospitals in Malaysia, including Hospital Sultan Idris Shah Serdang (Hospital Serdang), Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur (CVSKL), Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah (Alor Setar), and Northern Heart Hospital (Penang), among others. Dr Tan Chiang Soo, consultant cardiologist at Northern Heart Hospital remarked, “LithiX IVL’s safety and straightforward handling help operators to work more confidently and consistently, ultimately supporting better outcomes for patients with challenging calcified lesions.” Dr Kamaraj Selvaraj, Director of Interventional Cardiology, Hospital Serdang echoed these sentiments: “In my experience, LithiX demonstrates superior deliverability compared with other IVL platforms, allowing more consistent access to complex and tortuous coronary lesions and facilitating excellent lesion preparation.” “The new IVL System’s Hertz Contact principle is truly a game-changer in managing complex lesions,” added Dr Dharmaraj Karthikesan, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah. CCLs are a common finding among patients with CAD, with rising incidence driven by the high prevalence of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking and advancing age. |
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