The longer Esprit BTK system received approval for the treatment of chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), a severe form of peripheral artery disease (PAD).
CLTI can cause extreme pain, open wounds that don’t heal and, in some cases, amputation. It also delivers a 50% mortality rate while associating with poor long-term outcomes.
Abbott designed the Esprit BTK using materials similar to dissolving sutures. Unlike metal stents, it’s not a permanent implant, providing support for blocked vessels only for a few months after the blockage is cleared. At that point, the vessel can remain open on its own, while the scaffold dissolves.
Esprit BTK offers an alternative to balloon angioplasty, which relies on a small balloon delivered via a catheter. It compresses against the arterial wall, opening the blood vessel and restoring flow. Abbott says that before its FDA approval, no stents or drug-coated balloons treated below-the-knee chronic limb-threatening ischemia in the U.S.
Abbott won CE mark for Esprit BTK in August 2025, and picked up FDA clearance in April 2024. In 2024, the company reported positive LIFE-BTK study outcomes for the system compared to balloon angioplasty.
The longer scaffold aims to improve procedural efficiency by helping physicians treat lesions using fewer devices and a more streamlined workflow.
Dr. Ethan Korngold, chief medical officer of Abbott’s Vascular business, said:
“The FDA approval of the Abbott longer-length Esprit BTK scaffold represents an important advancement for physicians treating patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia. By enabling treatment of longer lesions with fewer devices, this new option can help simplify procedures, improve workflow efficiency, and support more consistent treatment. Building on the proven performance of our Esprit platform, we remain focused on delivering meaningful innovations that address real-world challenges and help physicians improve patient care.”
