July 22, 2009 – W. L. Gore & Associates today said it received FDA approval to market its GORE VIABAHN Endoprosthesis for device diameters 9-13 mm for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the iliac artery.
The next generation of the large diameter product enables streamlined deployment on the same 0.035” guide wire and TIP to HUB direction as the 5-8 mm sizes. Additional modifications to the large diameter GORE VIABAHN Endoprosthesis include radial device expansion, a contoured proximal edge and a lower profile that is now available for most sizes.
“The self-expanding, covered, GORE VIABAHN Endoprosthesis offers elegant and versatile endovascular solutions to difficult vascular problems,” said Michael B. Silva, Jr., M.D., professor of vascular surgery, professor of radiology and director of the Texas Vascular Center, University of Texas Medical Branch. “The latest improvements to the GORE VIABAHN Endoprosthesis with Heparin bioactive surface, including smaller delivery profile and 0.035” wire compatibility for the larger diameter endografts, will allow us to easily deliver the larger devices to more locations. Treating difficult vascular problems requires good skills and good equipment. We just got some cool new enhancements to our toys.”
The GORE VIABAHN Endoprosthesis family of devices is constructed with a durable, reinforced, biocompatible, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) liner attached to an external nitinol stent structure. The product’s flexibility enables it to traverse tortuous areas and to conform to the complex anatomy of the artery.
The FDA initially approved the original device configuration in 6-8 mm sizes in 2005 for treating PAD in the superficial femoral artery (SFA). In 2007, Gore added a 5 mm size and made modifications to the device, including reducing its profile and adding a Heparin bioactive surface. In 2008, Gore received approval for large diameters of the GORE VIABAHN Endoprosthesis 9-13 mm for the indication of improving blood flow in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease in iliac artery lesions. Last month, Gore announced that the FDA approved a manufacturing change to the device in order to remove excess material at the device margin, resulting in a contoured edge at the proximal end. The device is the only stent-graft approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients suffering from PAD in superficial femoral and iliac artery lesions.
For more information: www.goremedical.com