July 28, 2008 - Concentric Medical Inc. today said it launched its “V” series of Merci Retrievers, available in multiple configurations and sizes to match patient anatomy to remove blood clots and help restore blood flow in patients who have suffered ischemic strokes.
The distal end of the latest Retriever is tightly coiled, which resists stretching and assists in dislodging clots. The proximal end of the V series retrievers is more loosely coiled, which facilitates wrapping and holding a dislodged clot. Similar to Concentric Medical’s L family of retrievers, the V series of Merci Retrievers incorporate filaments that provide an additional mechanism for securing blood clots during retrieval from the brain, the company said. The V series of Merci Retrievers will be available in diameters of 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 millimeters.
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.
For more information: www.concentric-medical.com