Vygon secures CE marking for Stiletto peripheral catheter

Vygon, an international manufacturer of medical devices, has obtained CE and UKCA marking for its Stiletto next-generation extended-dwell peripheral catheter. Acquired from Avia Vascular in February 2026, the sterile, single-use device is now cleared for commercial rollout across the United Kingdom and several European countries, targeting a global market projected to grow up to 9 percent annually through 2030.

Wire-free SlipStream insertion technology
Designed for medium-term courses of treatment lasting up to 28 days, Stiletto utilizes the patented SlipStream insertion system to replace the traditional Seldinger technique. By eliminating the need for metal guidewires and reducing procedural steps, the intuitive system simplifies catheter placement for healthcare professionals. According to Ludovic Richard-Vitton, CEO of Vygon, this innovation addresses the growing clinical demand for reliable, long-dwell vascular access while minimizing the need for repeated needle sticks that deplete venous access points and compromise patient comfort.

Meeting shifting clinical demands
The European rollout targets an expanding demographic of aging patients presenting with chronic conditions and increasingly fragile or depleted veins. Simultaneously, as fewer practitioners receive specialized training in complex standard catheter insertions, the healthcare sector requires more straightforward solutions to ensure patient safety and clinical efficiency. Vygon will leverage its established network of direct sales teams and distributors to supply the Stiletto catheters to European healthcare providers, optimizing practices across hospitals and outpatient care centers.

Additional Context: The Seldinger technique and extended-dwell polymers
This section details vascular access mechanics and clinical procedures not included in the original press release.

In standard vascular access, the Seldinger technique is a fundamental medical procedure used to safely insert a catheter into a blood vessel. It traditionally involves puncturing the vein with a hollow needle, threading a flexible metal guidewire through the needle into the vessel, removing the needle, and finally sliding the plastic catheter over the guidewire into its final position. While highly effective, this multi-step process requires specialized training, poses a risk of guidewire-related complications, and increases the chance of blood exposure. "Wire-free" technologies like SlipStream integrate the catheter and introducer mechanism into a single fluid motion, bypassing the need for a separate guidewire. Furthermore, standard short peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheters typically fail or require replacement within 3 to 4 days due to phlebitis (vein inflammation) or infiltration. Extended-dwell peripheral catheters are designed with advanced biocompatible polymers—such as specialized polyurethanes—that resist thrombosis and bacterial colonization, allowing the line to safely remain in the patient's vein for up to 28 days to accommodate medium-term antibiotic or therapeutic regimens.

Edited by an industrial journalist, Lekshman Ramdas, with AI assistance.

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