New FDA-Approved Onyx™ 12 Expands Minimally Invasive Treatment Options for Cerebrovascular Conditions
Advances in endovascular neurosurgery continue to change how we treat complex cerebrovascular conditions, often allowing us to reach and treat areas of the brain’s vascular system through minimally invasive, catheter-based approaches.
One of the newest tools available to us is Onyx™ 12, a recently FDA-approved liquid embolic technology. I recently had the opportunity to become among the first physicians in New Jersey to use Onyx 12, adding another advanced option to the technologies available to our cerebrovascular team at New Jersey Brain and Spine.
What is Onyx 12?
Onyx is a liquid embolic material delivered through a small catheter placed within the blood vessels. Once it reaches the targeted area, it is used to block blood flow through specific vessels as part of an embolization procedure.
Onyx 12 is the newest formulation in Medtronic’s Onyx Liquid Embolic System. Its lower viscosity is designed to allow the material to travel farther into small, targeted vessels, providing another option when treating vascular anatomy that requires a high degree of precision.
For me, the significance is not simply that Onyx 12 is new. It gives us another advanced tool to safely target cerebrovascular pathology through a minimally invasive approach, including the ability to reach more distal vessels when appropriate.
How is Onyx 12 Used in MMA Embolization?
One important application for Onyx 12 is middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization, a minimally invasive procedure used in the treatment of certain subacute and chronic subdural hematomas.
A subdural hematoma occurs when blood collects between the brain and its outer protective covering. In some patients, blood vessels within the surrounding membrane can contribute to the hematoma persisting or recurring.
During MMA embolization, we guide a small catheter, typically through an artery in the wrist or groin, to the middle meningeal artery. Embolic material is then delivered to targeted vessels to reduce the blood supply that can contribute to persistence or recurrence of the hematoma. The embolization itself does not require a skull incision.
MMA embolization can be incorporated into a broader treatment plan depending on the individual patient and clinical circumstances. It may be used with surgery or, in selected cases, as a stand-alone treatment option. The appropriate approach depends on factors including a patient’s symptoms, imaging findings and whether surgical drainage is necessary.
Why New Embolization Technology Matters
In cerebrovascular care, small differences in technology can be meaningful. We are navigating very small and complex blood vessels, so the ability to precisely deliver treatment to the intended location matters.
New technologies like Onyx 12 continue to expand what we can accomplish through endovascular approaches. But being an early adopter is not the goal in itself. The goal is to understand where a new technology offers a meaningful clinical advantage and use it thoughtfully for the patients who may benefit.
That is what makes advances like this exciting. They give us more options and greater flexibility to tailor treatment to the individual patient, their anatomy and the condition we are treating.
Advanced Cerebrovascular Care at New Jersey Brain and Spine
At New Jersey Brain and Spine, our cerebrovascular team treats a wide range of vascular conditions affecting the brain and spine using both traditional surgical techniques and advanced minimally invasive endovascular approaches.
The right treatment is not the same for every patient. We evaluate each patient’s symptoms, imaging, vascular anatomy and overall clinical needs to determine the most appropriate approach.
As new technologies become available, our responsibility is to evaluate them carefully and incorporate them when they can improve how we care for patients. Onyx 12 represents another advancement in the minimally invasive tools now available to us for treating complex cerebrovascular disease.
To learn more about cerebrovascular care at New Jersey Brain and Spine or request a consultation with our cerebrovascular team, call 201-342-2550 or request an appointment online.
Sources / References
1. Medtronic: FDA Approval of Onyx™ 12 Liquid Embolic System
