Cook Medical launches first stent designed specifically for use in iliofemorales veins.

ing, Munich, September 2011.- Cook Medical, a global leader in minimally invasive medical technologies, has launched the first stent in the world designed and specifically approved to treat the symptoms of obstruction of the blood flow in the vein iliofemoral. Zilver vein, approved with the EC mark self-expanding stent is now available for the European medical community.

Are proud to launch this important product in CIRSE 2011 ” said Andy Förster, responsible for EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) of the Division Peripheral Intervention of Cook Medical. this allows Cook Medical to offer a good option to physicians and their patients to treat blockages in the veins ”.

Each year, one of every 1,000 people suffers from for the first time in his life of a venous thromboembolism (VTE) (1). More than 50 percent of patients who develop a VTE which is not fatal, just with a syndrome post trombótico (characterized by the discoloration of the skin, pain and swelling) (2). This post trombótico syndrome is caused by a chronic scarring of the affected veins which leads to a blockage of blood flow and in hypertension.

Zilver’s Cook, Zilver ® vein technology-based ™ is designed to solve many of the challenges that arise in damaged requiring stents and veins that are very different from the arteries. Veins require stents with a powerful radial strength, good flexibility and greater diameters.

Characteristics of the product:

-Stent flexible, self-expanding, manufactured with nitinol alloy

-stent suffers no clinically significant acortamientos

-available with diameters of 14 and 16 mm and a length of 60, 100 and 140 mm to facilitate an accurate installation

– provides a solid and consistent radial force from beginning to end

– incorporates flexibility and resistance to the folds demonstrated in the technologyto Zilver

-Compatible with catheters coated catheters and 7 Fr guide 9 Fr

-presented in systems deployment of 80 and 120 cm

El Doctor Gerard O ’ Sullivan (3), Interventional Radiologist at University College Hospital Galway, Ireland, said: there is a lack of awareness of the modern interventionist techniques important to eliminate thrombi and restore venous permeability. Until now, doctors who recognize the advantages of venous stents have been forced to the use of stents designed to arteries without being accordingly authorised. This is problematic because, unlike arteries, the walls of the veins have less muscle to keep them open, and also have much more elastic retraction, which tends to close them unless they used a stent with a powerful radial force ”.

For its part, Förster said: awareness by veins diseases is increasing in Europe thanks to the efforts of Governments, associations and industry. You will help more patients will be detected and diagnósticadas, but awareness for the treatment and prevention options is still low, and at present, the use of stents in the veins presents numerous issues envelope sizes and precision between doctors. We have spent four years developing this product and we hope that with the release of Zilver vein more doctors to adopt this type of system for the treatment of venous obstruction ”. Added: along with the products to combat the stroke and filters IVC, which are already available for the prevention and treatment of diseases in the veins, we are developing a comprehensive set of products for recanalisation of deep veins, creating a comprehensive program on veins from Cook Medical ”.

About Cook Medical

(1) White RH. The epidemiology of venous thromboembolism. Circulation. 2003; 107 (23)(suppl_1):I4 – I8.

(2) AT cohen, Agnelli G, Anderson FA, et to the. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Europe: the number of VTE events and associated morbidity and mortality. Thromb Haemost. 2007; 98 (4): 756-764.

(3) Dr Or ’ Sullivan is a paid consultant to Cook Medical with respect to its medical devices.