# Microcatheters for tumour embolisation (balloon-occlusion and pressure-enabled delivery)

Source: https://onco.cc/technologies/tace-delivery-microcatheters/  
OnCo record `tace-delivery-microcatheters` (Technology). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Special thin catheters used to deliver beads or chemotherapy into liver arteries. A small balloon or valve at the tip stops material flowing backwards into healthy branches and changes the pressure so more reaches the tumour.

## Summary

Embolx's Sniper infusion catheter with balloon occlusion (K180904, 8 June 2018, code MJN) is intended for temporary occlusion in the peripheral vasculature and "to assist in the delivery of diagnostic agents such as contrast media and therapeutic agents". Surefire Medical's Surefire Spark infusion system (K180677, 3 April 2018, code DQO) "delivers radiopaque media and therapeutic agents to selected sites in the peripheral vascular system". TriSalus Life Sciences describes its TriNav system as pressure-enabled drug delivery for liver tumours. None of these clearances names a cancer.

## Fields

- Kind: Technology
- Status: emerging
- Last checked: 2026-11-04
- Also known as: Balloon-occluded TACE; B-TACE; Sniper balloon occlusion catheter; Surefire Spark; Anti-reflux microcatheter; Pressure-enabled drug delivery
- Tags: devices-gaps-2026-11
- Principle: An expandable tip (balloon or self-expanding valve) seals the vessel around the catheter during infusion, preventing reflux and raising distal pressure so embolic or drug flows preferentially into tumour vessels.
- Since: 2018
- Strengths: Reduces reflux of embolic material into normal branches; May improve delivery into tumour vessels
- Limitations: Clinical benefit over standard microcatheters not established here; Higher device cost

## Sources

- FDA 510(k) K180904: Sniper infusion catheter with balloon occlusion (8 June 2018): https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K180904
- FDA 510(k) K180677: Surefire Spark infusion system (3 April 2018): https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfpmn/pmn.cfm?ID=K180677

## Connected records

- cancers: [Hepatocellular carcinoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/hcc/)
- fronts: [Devices & Physical Therapies](https://onco.cc/fronts/devices/), [Surgery & Interventional](https://onco.cc/fronts/surgery/)
- technologies: [Drug-eluting beads for chemoembolisation (DC Bead, LC Bead, HepaSphere, ONCOZENE, CalliSpheres, LifePearl)](https://onco.cc/technologies/drug-eluting-beads/), [Embolic microspheres and hydrogel for tumour embolisation (Embosphere, Bead Block, HydroPearl, Embozene, Easi-Vue, Embrace)](https://onco.cc/technologies/embolic-microspheres/), [Radioembolisation (TARE / SIRT, yttrium-90)](https://onco.cc/technologies/radioembolisation-tare/), [Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE)](https://onco.cc/technologies/tace/)
- companies: [TriSalus Life Sciences](https://onco.cc/companies/trisalus-life-sciences/)
- terms: [TACE (transarterial chemoembolisation)](https://onco.cc/terms/tace-term/)

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