Where did our name come from?

We’re called Q’Apel for the Qu’Appelle River, a waterway that winds through Saskatchewan, Canada. Why? Because this pristine river charts a winding path, full of twists, turns, and straightaways alike. That’s what we do, too. Our cutting-edge products—neurological catheters, specifically—are designed to navigate the twists and turns of the brain’s neurovasculature, empowering therapeutic thrombectomy and cerebral aneurysm devices to deliver life-changing outcomes.

Who We Are
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I am Walrus.

I’m a balloon guide catheter specifically designed for stroke patients. Before I came along, balloon-based variable stiffness catheters weren’t used all that often, because all manner of technological constraints stood in the way. I’m here to change that.

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A critical step forward in balloon guide catheter technology.

My particular specifications are unique in this space—which means I’m ideally positioned to serve stroke patients and the caregivers who treat them worldwide. Yes, similar balloon guide catheters have promised superior functionality. But I was specifically and intentionally designed to banish those shortcomings once and for all.

So how do I deliver? My revolutionary 0.087-inch ID and 8F+ (OD) mean I’m just as suited to facilitate the insertion and guidance of an intravascular catheter as I am in my role as a conduit for clot retrieval devices. And my distinct construction means I deliver proximal support while maintaining distal flexibility. In short, I combine flow control, trackability, support, and access into one revolutionary solution.

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0.110" OD

Despite my large inner diameter, my outer diameter is small enough to fit in most 8F sheaths—making me suitable to accommodate market-leading closure devices.

0.087" ID

I can accommodate market-leading large bore catheters, maximizing clot capture and improving delivery for the most complex therapies.

11.1mm

Compliant and reliable, my polyurethane balloon diameter is designed to conform to the vessel wall for proximal flow control.

Looking for more detailed usage information?
Explore the Walrus clinician page.

View Clinicians Page
How I'm Different

Let’s start with my size.

I have an 0.087-inch ID, which pretty much blows other balloon guide catheters out of the water. And my large yet highly trackable size means I’m particularly effective in supporting mechanical thrombectomy.

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Suitable for current market-leading catheters
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Improved delivery for even the most complex therapies
How I'm Different

I get even bigger.

My balloon component is built for enhanced performance and compliance. Not only am I highly reliable in the face of critical clots—I adapt to serve my surroundings so I can suit physician needs from start to finish.

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Diameter up to 11.1mm designed to conform to the vessel wall for proximal flow control
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Dual radiopaque distal marker bands to enable visibility under fluoroscopy
How I'm Different

Agility is my middle name (no, really).

Above all, I’m designed to flex and move. With my kink-resistant construction, I can shimmy and twist through the most challenging of neurovascular procedures, all the while staying the course with my monolithic wall and material transitions.

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Proximal support while maintaining distal flexibility
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Optimal trackability and support

A few more personal details.

Ultimately, my physique comes down to the particulars. From my workhorse 95-centimeter usable length to my 0.087-inch ID—and let’s not forget my 11.1mm diameter compliant balloon—I’m made to track and support. Have a closer look.

Illustration of the Walrus product
My measurements
Outer Diameter (OD)0.110in (2.79mm)
French Designation (OD)8F+
Internal Diameter (ID)0.087in
Tip ShapeStraight
Usable Length90cm, 95cm
Guidewire Compatability0.035-0.038in
Maximum Balloon Diameter11.1mm

Looking for more detailed usage information? Explore our clinician page.

Q’Apel in the news.

For us, accolades matter little—but actions are everything. Read up on our most recent innovations, certifications, and the clinical results that continue to deliver on our promise of revolutionary answers in stroke care.

May 21, 2020

Walrus early experience webinar.

May 21, 2020

The early experience, techniques, and best practices used at State University of NY at Stony Brook with Walrus Balloon Guide Catheter.

May 21, 2020

The early experience, techniques, and best practices used at UMass Memorial Medical Center with Walrus Balloon Guide Catheter.

May 21, 2020

Science behind Balloon Guide Catheters in Mechanical Thrombectomy webinar.

Q'Apel Website Imagery - Physician Testimonials Fernando Gonzalez

Physicians Rave About Q'Apel

“Walrus is the best balloon guide catheter technology on the market. It helped to increase my TICI3 reperfusion rates and shortened time to reperfusion.”

L. Fernando Gonzalez, MD

Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC

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Ready to try Walrus?

My FDA-cleared technology has been consistently supported in clinical literature—but I’m always eager to show what I can do firsthand.

Request A Demo