Abbott Launches Advanced Cardiovascular Device, Proudly Made in Puerto Rico
Abbott has recently launched a new generation of guide cables – the Cable HT Command family – designed to improve precision in complex cardiovascular interventions. Notably, the device is both designed and manufactured at abbott’s plant in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, a point of significant pride for the company and local medical professionals.
“We are very excited about the launch of this new technology, and we are proud to be produced here in Puerto Rico,” stated a company representative.
The Cable HT Command cables are crafted from stainless steel and nitinol, a nickel-titanium alloy, requiring meticulous precision throughout the manufacturing process. A key example is the millimeter-precise welding performed on the cable tips, ensuring each unit meets stringent safety standards for navigating blood vessels.
Dr. Damián Grovas, an interventionist cardiologist at the Cardiovascular Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, highlighted the clinical benefits.“In interventionist procedures,precision matters. The family of Cable HT Command gives us greater control by navigating narrow or tortuous arteries, especially in the lower extremities,” he explained. “It is indeed an vital advance that can definitely help us reduce the procedure time.”
Dr. Grovas recently utilized the new wire to successfully treat a septuagenarian patient suffering from a 90% blockage below the knee, a condition that threatened amputation and severely limited mobility. he credited the cable’s enhanced torque and controlled prolapse for the accomplished unlocking of the artery.
“it is beyond saving a leg,” Dr.Grovas emphasized, acknowledging the high rates of amputation in Puerto rico due to conditions like diabetes and renal failure. “Now you can make your life.” He further expressed his enthusiasm, stating: “It’s a pride, because it is an extremely competitive world.”
The Barceloneta plant is prepared to meet anticipated increases in demand following the launch,and to navigate potential challenges stemming from federal government tariff policies. The facility operates continuously with three shifts and employs approximately 600 people. Currently, the plant produces around 20,000 guide cables of various models.
according to plant director, Abbott employs approximately 1,500 people across Puerto Rico, including the Barceloneta plant, a commercial group in San Juan, and two additional factories in Arecibo and Caguas. The medical device unit represents the company’s largest operation in the territory,out of Abbott’s 14 global business units spanning pharmaceuticals,nutrition,and diagnostics.
Abbott, headquartered in Illinois, maintains a global presence in 160 countries and employs roughly 100,000 people worldwide.