Erie Device Saves Patient's Leg Using Shockwave Technology

An Erie patient walked into LECOM Health with wounds forming on their toe and a femoral artery so calcified doctors described it as stone. Thanks to a new device that literally cracks calcium like a boulder, that same patient is now healing at home with their leg intact.

Dr. Matthew Becker and his team at LECOM's cardiac cath lab completed Western Pennsylvania's first procedure using the SeisMIQ device. The patient had severe peripheral arterial disease with blockages so hardened that traditional treatments couldn't break them apart.

The device works by sending energy waves into the artery wall, fracturing the calcium deposits from the inside. Once cracked, doctors can expand a balloon to restore blood flow. The entire procedure took less than an hour.

The stakes couldn't be higher for patients like this one. More than half of people who undergo leg amputations die within two years, a survival rate worse than many cancers. Traditional surgical options carry significant risks and require long recovery times.

Dr. Becker explains that many patients with severe calcium buildup in their leg arteries have faced limited options until now. The shockwave technology offers a minimally invasive alternative that reduces risk, improves comfort, and speeds recovery.

The Ripple Effect

This isn't just one saved leg. Peripheral arterial disease affects millions of Americans, with calcified blockages becoming more common as the population ages. Many patients in Western Pennsylvania previously had to travel to specialized centers or face riskier surgical procedures.

By bringing this technology to Erie, LECOM Health now offers regional access to cutting edge treatment. The device completed rigorous safety and effectiveness studies before arriving in their lab, ensuring patients receive proven care close to home.

For the Erie patient, restored blood flow means wounds can heal naturally. Doctors expect a quick recovery without the life altering consequences of amputation or major surgery.

Western Pennsylvania patients with severe arterial disease now have a local option that transforms stone hard blockages into treatable conditions in under an hour.