MOUNTAIN VIEW, California, September 23 /PRNewswire/ --
Concentric Medical, Inc., the global leader in devices for clot removal in ischemic stroke patients, today announced its plan to sponsor a prospective randomized clinical trial comparing intervention using the Merci Retrieval System(TM) with best medical therapy.
A steering committee comprised of clinical experts from around the world has agreed to support and help guide the trial, named RETRIEVE (Randomized trial of Endovascular TReatment of acute Ischemic strokE Versus mEdical management). The trial, which will enroll in centers throughout the world, will randomize patients between treatment with the Merci Retriever(R) and non-interventional, best medical therapy. Enrollment is expected to begin in 2009.
"We believe a positive randomized trial will significantly improve patient access to interventional technologies, augment the body of evidence, and support a collaborative and comprehensive approach by all clinicians involved in the stroke care chain. Despite a large body of clinical data and over 9,000 patients treated with the Merci Retriever thus far, mechanical intervention is still only used in a very small percentage of stroke cases today," said Maria Sainz, CEO of Concentric Medical.
The Merci Retriever is made with a flexible, shaped Nitinol wire that allows delivery of the Retriever in linear form using standard catheterization techniques. A neurointerventionalist makes a small puncture in the groin to introduce the Merci Retriever into an artery leading to the brain. The Merci Retriever returns to its original shape when deployed in and around the blood clot in the brain.
About Concentric Medical
Concentric Medical is located in Mountain View, California, and was founded in August 1999. The company manufactures and markets the Merci Retrieval System, which is a minimally invasive device that is delivered by a neurointerventionalist into the brain to restore blood flow by engaging, capturing and removing blood clots that cause ischemic stroke. The Merci Retrieval System is available in over 250 leading stroke centers around the world, and has been the subject of two successful clinical trials, MERCI and Multi MERCI. Concentric Medical estimates that over 9,000 patients have been treated with its devices. For more information about Concentric Medical, please visit http://www.concentric-medical.com.
Media Contact: Andrew Gordon +1-650-810-1701 agordon@concentric-medical.com
Web site: http://www.concentric-medical.com
Andrew Gordon of Concentric Medical, Inc., +1-650-810-1701, agordon@concentric-medical.com
Comments