Rapid Medical has announced Chinese National Medical Product Administration (NMPA) approval for its adjustable Tigertriever revascularisation device, making it the first device to offer patient-specific solutions for removing blood clots from the brain to advance the treatment of ischaemic stroke in the country—as per a Rapid press release.
“The successful launch of Tigertriever in China represents another stroke intervention innovation that can be applied in the real world, introducing the concept of tailored thrombectomy using an adjustable stent retriever that allows physicians to navigate procedures and unexpected circumstances with added control,” said Zhiyong Xie, president at MicroPort NeuroTech. “Tigertriever provides Chinese physicians with a new choice of neurological intervention medical devices that will benefit more patients.”
Tigertriever technology, which Rapid claims has been “fuelled by advancements in aerospace engineering”, enables precise control during mechanical thrombectomy procedures. Its unique operation changes these procedures from a passive to an active approach that accelerates clot capture, and potentially reduces the risk of vascular injury during removal, the company further states, also noting that comparable, leading stent retrievers are “self-expanding and static”, and can therefore lead to suboptimal clot removal and minimal vessel protection.
The release adds that published clinical studies involving Tigertriever demonstrate superiority to conventional stent retrievers. For example, results from the multicentre TIGER trial presented three statistically significant improvements—in restoring blood flow to the brain, good clinical outcomes, and reducing emboli to new territory—compared to an average from six pivotal stent retriever trials. Additionally, the TIGER trial showed fast procedure times, on par with aspiration thrombectomy alone, driven by a “very high rate” of first-pass success, according to Rapid.
“This new approval for Tigertriever propels treatment for ischaemic stroke patients in China,” said Ronen Eckhouse, co-founder and CEO at Rapid. “We are fortunate to have an excellent partner with MicroPort Scientific Corporation, who understand the need to expand neurointerventional capabilities and individualised stroke care for these patients.”
