A plethora of novel neurovascular devices enjoyed their time in the limelight throughout April, with industry leaders like Penumbra and Terumo Neuro as well as ‘up-and-comers’ including TG Medical, Artedrone and Anaconda Biomed all announcing significant updates over the course of the month. Also featuring are the launch of a ‘world-first’ stroke action movement and an exclusive interview with European Stroke Organisation (ESO) president Simona Sacco (L’Aquila, Italy).
1. Penumbra announces Red 72 Silver Label product featuring company’s latest engineering enhancements
Penumbra recently announced a significant update to its flagship large-bore reperfusion catheter, Red 72. Developed for speed and ease of navigation, the new Red 72 Silver Label features “meticulously blended” transition zones to better accommodate the natural distal anatomy of the brain, according to the company.
2. TG Medical completes patient enrolment in study evaluating novel ICAD stroke treatment
TG Medical has announced the successful completion of patient enrolment in its approval study for the TG dilator—a novel device designed to treat intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) in patients presenting with acute ischaemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion.
3. Q’Apel announces Class I voluntary recall of 1,617 aspiration system units
Q’Apel Medical has announced the voluntary recall of 1,617 units of its 072 aspiration system including the Hippo catheter and Cheetah delivery tool—a recall categorised as Class I, the most serious type of medical device recall, by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
4. Meta-analysis of nearly 500 patients synthesises current data on novel intrasaccular device
A systematic review and meta-analysis published recently in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery has synthesised the existing data on intracranial aneurysm treatments utilising the novel Contour neurovascular system (Stryker), ultimately finding the device to be a safe and effective therapeutic option.
5. Terumo Neuro receives US FDA approval for carotid stent system
Terumo Neuro has announced that its carotid stent system has received premarket approval (PMA) from the US FDA. This milestone marks the first dual-layer micromesh carotid stent approved in the USA, offering physicians a clinically proven option to improve patient outcomes in carotid artery disease treatment, as per a company press release.
6. Artedrone demonstrates autonomous thrombectomy capabilities with microrobot-based Sasha solution
Artedrone, a Truffle Capital medtech portfolio company, has announced the successful completion of a set of various in vitro and animal studies demonstrating the ability of its Sasha microrobotic solution to autonomously perform mechanical thrombectomies in stroke treatment. Results from the study are being submitted for publication in a research journal, an Artedrone press release notes.
7. Anaconda begins enrolment in ATHENA trial with first US patient treatment
Anaconda Biomed has announced the enrolment and treatment of the first US patient by Shahram Majidi (New York, USA) in its ATHENA clinical trial—a global, randomised, 327-patient pivotal study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of Anaconda’s proprietary Ana funnel catheter.
8. Imperative announces randomised trial assessing aspiration thrombectomy in M2 occlusion strokes
Imperative Care has announced that it will fund an investigator-initiated, multicentre randomised controlled clinical trial comparing aspiration thrombectomy with the Zoom stroke system plus best medical treatment versus best medical treatment alone. The study will examine treatments in patients suffering from acute ischaemic stroke due to a primary occlusion of the M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) within eight hours of symptom onset.
9. “We can’t afford to wait”—new coalition calls for urgent action to address stroke crisis
The “world’s first” multisector advocacy movement dedicated to stroke—the Global Stroke Action Coalition—launched recently, issuing an urgent call to action to address growing inequities in stroke.
10. PROFILE: Simona Sacco
Fuelled by a passion for research, and inspired by a “heartbreaking” case she encountered early on in her career, Simona Sacco has made a number of significant contributions to the neurology field—perhaps most prominently through her current tenure as president of the ESO. Here, Sacco—professor of neurology at the University of L’Aquila and director of the Neurology and Stroke Unit at Avezzano-Sulmona-L’Aquila Hospitals—discusses her key mentors, the current landscape of stroke and migraine management, and much more.
