Stryker has agreed to acquire Amplitude Vascular Systems (AVS) as part of its strategy to expand its vascular care portfolio and enter the fast-growing intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) market. AVS has developed the Pulse IVL system, which uses pressure-based sound waves delivered through a balloon catheter to break down calcium deposits in patients with peripheral artery disease, helping restore blood flow in affected arteries.
The technology is currently being evaluated in the POWER PAD 2 clinical trial, which is studying its use in patients with moderate-to-severe arterial calcification. The company received an investigational device exemption from the Food and Drug Administration in 2024 to conduct this pivotal study. Once approved, Stryker expects the system to complement its existing vascular offerings and strengthen its position in treating arterial disease. Financial terms of the deal and a closing timeline have not been disclosed.
The acquisition follows Stryker’s broader push into vascular interventions, including its $4.9 billion purchase of Inari Medical in 2025. It also reflects growing industry interest in IVL technology, a space that has attracted major investment from companies such as Johnson & Johnson, which acquired Shockwave Medical, and Boston Scientific, which entered the market through Bolt Medical. Other players, including Abbott and Elixir Medical, are also developing competing systems, though some may take several years to reach commercial availability.
As demand rises for more effective treatments for calcified arterial disease, IVL is emerging as a key innovation area, with Stryker positioning itself to compete by combining new technology with its scale and clinical expertise.
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