Gastric artery embolization and injectable beads have shown promising results in treating morbidly obese patients, according to preliminary findings from the GET LEAN (Gastric Artery Embolization Trial for Lessening Appetite Nonsurgically) trial presented at the Radiological Society of North America (Oakbrook, Ill.). By performing gastric artery embolization, a decades old method interventional radiologists have used as a way to stop bleeding in emergency situations, researchers have been able to suppress an appetite-stimulating hormone made in the stomach – ghrelin, which has led to weight loss for patients in the study.

The peripheral intervention market is heating up with Boston Scientific Corp. (Marlborough, Mass.), one of the heavy hitters in the space, launching a new thrombectomy catheter to treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in large-diameter peripheral veins in the arms or legs.