Corporate
News release
TopAliso Viejo, CA. - June 12, 2018 MicroVention, Inc. a U.S.-based subsidiary of Terumo and a global neurovascular company, announced today the FDA clearance of a new clinical indication for the SOFIA® Catheter (Soft TOrqueable catheter For Intracranial Access) to include contact aspiration technique for successful revascularization among patients with acute ischemic stroke, secondary to intracranial large vessel occlusive disease.
When considered separately from other cardiovascular diseases, stroke ranks No. 5 among all causes of death in the US, with nearly 133,000 people's lives lost every year. Someone in the US has a stroke about once every 40 seconds and stroke accounts for 1 of every 19 deaths. (Source: American Stroke Association 2018)
An ischemic stroke is a type of stroke caused by a blockage of blood flow within a blood vessel in the brain. The brain cells downstream of the blockage are deprived of oxygen and nutrients and will quickly die if left untreated. A thrombectomy procedure using an aspiration catheter can help to remove blood clots from a blocked vessel of the brain and restore blood flow to those vessels.
"In my clinical experience the unequaled tracking performance and the increased reperfusion capability of the SOFIA® Catheter make a major difference when treating patients suffering from an ischemic stroke. The SOFIA® Catheter makes my practice less challenging, reducing navigation time and providing effective clot extraction," said PD Dr. Markus Möhlenbruch, Section Chief of Interventional Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany.
The SOFIA® Catheter has been approved in Europe (CE marked) for aspiration indication since 2015 and has been safely used in other parts of the world to treat acute ischemic stroke. The unique design of the SOFIA® Catheter allows for great trackability and a large inside lumen, to provide a fast and effective way to restore blood flow in stroke patients.
"We are very excited to have a product that can effectively provide a viable option for the treatment of the devastating disease of stroke," said Richard E. Cappetta, President and CEO, MicroVention, Inc. "This new indication expands the tools available for physicians to be able to help their patients who are presented with an ischemic stroke."
For more information regarding the SOFIA® Catheter with aspiration indication please visit microvention.com.
About MicroVention, Inc.
Founded in 1997, MicroVention® develops and markets medical devices that enable or significantly improve treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. In 2006, Terumo® Corporation, a major worldwide medical device company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, acquired MicroVention® into their family of Companies. Terumo's acquisition of MicroVention® allowed both Companies to leverage their unique, proprietary technologies toward an increased focus on treating cerebrovascular diseases.
Headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, MicroVention® products are today sold in more than 75 nations through a direct sales organization alongside strategic distribution partnerships. Manufacturing facilities are located within Aliso Viejo, California, San José, Costa Rica and Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France.
About Terumo
Terumo (TSE: 4543) is a global leader in medical technology and has been committed to “Contributing to Society through Healthcare” for 100 years. Based in Tokyo and operating globally, Terumo employs more than 30,000 associates worldwide to provide innovative medical solutions in more than 160 countries and regions. The company started as a Japanese thermometer manufacturer, and has been supporting healthcare ever since. Now, its extensive business portfolio ranges from vascular intervention and cardio-surgical solutions, blood transfusion and cell therapy technology, to medical products essential for daily clinical practice such as transfusion systems, diabetes care, and peritoneal dialysis treatments. Terumo will further strive to be of value to patients, medical professionals, and society at large.