Medtronic steams ahead with carotid stenting trial:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Medtronic has begun the third in a series of studies to evaluate its system of devices to treat blockages in the carotid arteries that can lead to ischaemic strokes. The MAVErIC III clinical trial will gather data for submission to US regulatory authorities to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a combination of the firm's Interceptor PLUS carotid filter system and Exponent self-expanding carotid stent. It has already enrolled the first patient and will include 413 high-risk patients at 35 centres in North America. According to the American Heart Association, carotid stenting is expected to grow from about 17,000 procedures this year to more than 125,000 worldwide in 2008, Medtronic said.