#Japan #Tokyo #Catheter Technology #Zeon Medical #Medtec Innovation

Zeon Medical Advances in Catheter Technology

Zeon Medical Inc., a subsidiary of Zeon Corporation headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, has recently made headlines by winning the prestigious "13th Medtec Innovation Award". This award showcases innovative medical devices developed in Japan, and Zeon Medical was honored for its cutting-edge endoscope catheter, the "Zemex Movable Tip Cannula", developed in collaboration with Shiga University of Medical Science and launched in 2022.

One of the most remarkable features of the Zemex Movable Tip Cannula is its ability for the tip to curve sharply in two directions. This innovation is expected to significantly reduce the time needed to insert the catheter into complex branched structures such as the bile duct, which can have substantial anatomical variations among patients. The Medtec Innovation Award was established in 2012 to reward domestic companies that excel in the design and manufacturing of medical devices, making this win particularly significant as it marks Zeon Group’s first recognition in this prestigious accolade.

Zeon Medical is primarily involved in the production and sale of medical devices that focus on the cardiovascular and digestive systems, including IABP balloons and bile duct stents. The Zemex Movable Tip Cannula is particularly useful during ERCP procedures and endoscopic interventions for bile ducts. Historically, many products in this category lacked movable mechanisms, and even those that did often faced challenges such as fragility, limited bending angles, and inefficiency within narrow lumens. The successful development of the Zemex Cannula addresses these issues, allowing for speedy and safe guidance of catheters and guidewires to targeted areas, which is expected to reduce the duration of both examinations and treatments.

Key Features of the Zemex Movable Tip Cannula

1. Tip Mobility & Kink Resistance
By utilizing ePTFE materials at the curved section of the tip, the device ensures excellent kink resistance, enabling sharp bending in two directions.

2. Stable Bending Performance & High Durability
The seamless molding of the rigid body and the flexible tip ensures that durability is maintained while providing stable bending performance.

As part of its medium-term management plan, STAGE30, Zeon emphasizes the field of "Medical & Life Sciences" as a critical area for growth. Through the offerings of Zeon Medical, the company aims to further contribute to the enhancement of quality of life (QOL) among people by providing advanced medical devices.

1 Catheter: A slender tubular medical device utilized for examination and treatment.
2 Stent: A medical device that expands tubular parts of blood vessels, trachea, esophagus, or gastrointestinal tract from within.
3 ERCP Examination: An endoscopic procedure used to visualize the bile and pancreatic ducts.
4 ePTFE: A material made from expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
*5 Kink Resistance: A property that minimizes the likelihood of occlusion within the catheter lumen when bent.

Manufacturer: Zeon Medical Inc.
Product Name: Zemex Movable Tip Cannula
Certification Number: 303ABBZX00057000