Next-Generation Radiopacity and PHIL Technology
A major breakthrough in 2026 is the widespread adoption of PHIL (Precipitating Hydrophobic Injectable Liquid), which addresses the limitations of older embolic agents that used tantalum powder for visibility
. Traditional agents like Onyx use heavy tantalum particles that can settle in the vial and create "streaking" artifacts on follow-up CT scans, making it difficult to see the underlying brain tissue. PHIL technology uses iodine molecules that are covalently bound to the polymer itself. This results in a liquid that is intrinsically radiopaque and does not settle or "artifact" during imaging. This innovation provides clinicians with much clearer post-operative scans, allowing for better long-term monitoring of the treated lesion without the visual interference seen in previous decades.