Philips Releases Next-Gen Bridge Plus Occlusion Balloon

Philips has launched its next-generation Bridge Plus occlusion balloon, which is designed to help electrophysiology teams rapidly control bleeding and stabilize patients during rare but life-threatening superior vena cava (SVC) tears in transvenous lead extraction (TLE) procedures.

Lead extraction procedures are commonly performed to remove leads from cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), such as pacemakers or defibrillators, due to damaged, infected, or malfunctioning leads. Bridge Plus was designed to offer temporary vessel occlusion.

This helps reduce blood loss, maintain hemostasis, and stabilize patients during emergencies. The balloon can deploy in under two minutes, stop up to 90% blood loss, and maintain acceptable hemostasis for at least half an hour, according to Philips.

Bridge Plus is a low-pressure, compliant balloon occlusion with radiopaque markers engineered for accurate placement and compatibility with a range of patient anatomies. The device grows Philips’ portfolio of lead management solutions that support safe, effective extraction procedures.

Prophylactic balloon set up brings additional benefits during TLE procedures, including individualized balloon staging for each patient, and the ability to deploy Bridge Plus if fluoroscopy is no longer available.

“Ensuring procedural safety is a top priority for electrophysiology teams,” said Stacy Beske, business leader, Image-Guided Therapy Devices at Philips. “Bridge Plus builds on established technology to help physicians prepare for rare SVC tears and respond quickly with the control needed to stabilize patients and transition to surgery.”

The Bridge Plus occlusion balloon is now commercially available in the U.S., with international availability expected later in 2026.

Earlier this week, the company obtained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for its Rembra platform of scanning systems, which includes Rembra CT, Rembra RT, and Areta RT.