Lithotripsy Versus Balloon Angioplasty for Optimal Treatment of CAlcified Lesions With and Withou… (NCT07388030) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Lithotripsy Versus Balloon Angioplasty for Optimal Treatment of CAlcified Lesions With and Without Optical Coherence Tomography evaluatION
China3,060 participantsStarted 2026-03-20
Plain-language summary
Severely calcified coronary artery disease means that calcium has built up in the blood vessels that supply the heart. This makes coronary procedures more difficult and increases the risk of complications during and after treatment.
The LOCATION Study is a large clinical study designed to compare different commonly used treatment strategies for patients with severely calcified coronary arteries who need a coronary stent. The study aims to find safer and more effective ways to prepare the artery and place the stent in order to improve long-term outcomes.
In this study, participants will be randomly assigned (like flipping a coin) to one of four treatment groups during their coronary procedure. The treatments differ in two ways: (1) how the calcified artery is prepared before placing the stent, and (2) how imaging is used to guide stent placement.
One method uses a shockwave-based device to help break calcium in the artery, while the other uses standard balloon treatment. For imaging guidance, one approach uses a high-resolution imaging catheter inside the artery, and the other relies on standard X-ray imaging. All participants will receive a standard, approved drug-eluting stent as part of routine care.
The main goal of the study is to determine which treatment approach best reduces serious heart-related problems over three years. These problems include heart-related death, heart attack in the treated vessel, or the need for another procedure on the same vessel.
Adults aged 18 years or older with significant coronary artery narrowing and severe calcium buildup may be eligible to participate. All participants must provide written informed consent before joining the study.
Participants will be followed during their hospital stay and through regular follow-up visits or phone calls for up to three years after the procedure. Information collected during the study will help doctors better understand how to treat patients with severely calcified coronary arteries in the future.
Participation in this study is voluntary, and patients may withdraw at any time without affecting their medical care. All study devices used in this trial are approved for clinical use, and patient privacy will be protected according to applicable regulations.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Age ≥18 years;
. Subject presents with:
. stable ischemic heart disease or
. acute coronary syndrome (non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction \[NSTEMI\] or unstable angina), or
. Subject has been fully informed and signed the Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved LOCATION trial Informed Consent Form (ICF) prior to any trial related procedures.
. The reference diameter of each target vessel is ≥2.25 mm and ≤4.0 mm at the lesion site (visual estimation);
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Target Vessel Failure (TVF) at 3 years
Timeframe: 3 years
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07388030
SponsorShanghai Bluesail Boyuan Medical Technology Co., Ltd.
. Subject has undergone PCI in the target vessel or its branches within 12 months prior to randomization or prior CABG any time;
. Subject has undergone a PCI procedure in a non-target vessel that is unsuccessful or with complications within 30 days prior to randomization, including during the randomization procedure. Successful and uncomplicated PCI is defined as final diameter stenosis ≤20% with final TIMI-3 flow, no residual dissection grade≥ type B, no transient or sustained angiographic complications (e.g., distal embolization, side branch closure), no chest pain lasting \>5 minutes, and no ST-segment elevation or depression lasting \>5 minutes);
. PCI is planned within 12 months post randomization aside from a potential planned staged PCI as part of the randomized treatment strategy;
. Planned use in the randomized lesion(s) of a bare metal stent (BMS), bioresorbable scaffold (BRS), or non-stent treatment only;
. The investigator believes that based on the angiographic appearance that 1) it is unlikely that an OCT catheter can be delivered; 2) if randomized to no IVL, it is unlikely that the lesion(s) can be crossed and pre-dilated by balloon angioplasty alone; 3) if randomized to IVL, it is unlikely that the IVL catheter can be delivered to the lesion (note: pre-dilatation is allowed if necessary for IVL delivery);
. Subject has undergone a prior transcatheter or surgical intervention for a non-coronary cardiac condition (e.g. a TAVR or left atrial appendage occlusion) within the prior 6 months, or is anticipated to need such a procedure within 1 year;
. Subject has severe stenosis or regurgitation of any heart valve, or moderate aortic stenosis or regurgitation;
. Subject has evidence of heart failure by at least one of the following: