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Lower Limb Arteries

The Angioslide PROTEUS™ balloon catheter is indicated for the capture and containment of embolic material during angioplasty of the lower limbs. Below, we answer some of your questions about lower limb arteries.

What is an artery?

An artery is a hollow tube that carries blood from the heart to all the different regions of the body.

What is the difference between an artery and a vein?

The arteries take blood away from your heart to all the different organs in your body, including your brain, kidneys and liver. Arteries also take blood from the heart to all your limbs. Veins work in the opposite direction and take blood from all the different regions in your body back to the heart.

How many different arteries are there in the leg?

There are many arteries in the leg, all of varying sizes. The main artery of the leg is called the Femoral Artery (see illustration below). There is a Femoral Artery in both the left leg and right leg and this artery begins in the groin of each leg, running all the way down to the knee. At the knee, the Femoral Artery continues as the Popliteal Artery, and below the knee the Popliteal Artery continues as the smaller Tibial Artery.

The Femoral Artery is significant because it is usually the artery used by physicians to access the limb arteries during balloon angioplasty procedures.

Which arteries are most commonly affected by Peripheral Artery Disease?

The femoral artery, which is the main artery of the leg, is a very common site affected by Peripheral Artery Disease. Another common artery affected by PAD is the popliteal artery – a short artery that lies directly behind the knee. There are other smaller arteries (such as the tibial arteries) that run below the knee that may also be affected by PAD.

Can the PROTEUS™ balloon catheter treat all the arteries of the leg?

The PROTEUS™ balloon catheter can be used to treat all the major arteries of the leg. The PROTEUS™ balloon catheter is available in a range of sizes, enabling its use in many of the leg arteries.

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