Embolic protection for AMI (acute myocardial infarction) population:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Medtronic has begun a clinical trial to test a smaller version of its embolic protection device that may be especially useful during percutaneous interventional procedures in patients who have experienced an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The 500-patient, multicentre, prospective, randomised study, called EMERALD, will assess the firm's 0.028 inch GuardWire Plus temporary occlusion and aspiration system. The company's 0.036 GuardWire has been available in the US since last year. The new trial is the first to evaluate a distal protection system during percutaneous intervention in patients who have experienced AMI, says Medtronic. Worldwide, patients with AMIs represent 25% of all coronary vascular interventions, the company adds.