Concentric Medical Announces CE Mark of Aspiration Indication for the DAC(TM) Family of Neurovascular Catheters

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Concentric Medical, Inc., the global leader in devices for clot removal in ischemic stroke patients, today announced an important expanded indication for the full line of DAC™ Neurovascular Catheters. CE Mark was granted allowing the DAC family of distal access catheters to be used for the removal/aspiration of fresh, soft emboli and thrombi from vessels in the arterial system, including the neurovasculature.

Now, the full range of DAC catheters may be utilized for aspirating and removing thrombus from the neurovasculature. The DAC catheters continue to be first-in-class for providing distal access and support in tortuous anatomy commonly encountered in stroke and other neurovascular procedures. The DAC family of catheters offers the broadest range of diameters and lengths, providing physicians more options and the ability to tailor their use of the device.

"I utilize the DAC in most of my interventional ischemic stroke procedures," said Thomas Liebig, MD, Interventional Neuroradiologist at the Klinikum Rechts der Isar Technische Universitat Munchen, Germany. "It is an effective complement in not only gaining access and support for many devices, but also allows me to aspirate closer to the clot, to enhance clot retrieval for many patients."

The original DAC catheter was launched in mid 2008 as a distal access, support and delivery device for use in Merci Retriever procedures. The original product quickly gained favor in both Merci procedures and general neurovascular procedures. The DAC catheter family was extended to include 7 different diameters and lengths in 2009. Also in 2009, the DAC family received FDA clearance for aspirating fresh, soft emboli and thrombi from vessels in the arterial system.

Maria Sainz, President and CEO of Concentric Medical, said, "The CE mark for this aspiration indication, is an important milestone as it further positions Concentric Medical as the company with the broadest acute ischemic stroke device options for physicians and patients."

About Concentric Medical

Concentric Medical is located in Mountain View, California, and was founded in August 1999. The company manufactures and markets the Merci Retrieval System®, a minimally invasive device delivered by a neurointerventionalist into the brain to restore blood flow by removing blood clots that cause ischemic stroke. The Merci Retrieval System is available in over 500 leading stroke centers around the world, and has been the subject of two successful clinical trials, MERCI and Multi MERCI. Concentric Medical estimates that well over 10,000 patients have been treated with its devices.

About Acute Ischemic Stroke

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the developed world and the leading cause of serious long-term disability. Ischemic stroke represents over 85% of strokes and occurs when a blockage or clot develops in one of the arteries supplying blood to the brain. In 2004 the FDA cleared Concentric Medical's Merci Retriever® for use in stroke patients who are ineligible for IV-tPA or who fail to respond to IV-tPA therapy. This pioneering device created a departure from the historic method of caring for stroke patients and offered physicians and patients a long-awaited option for stroke intervention.

For more information about Concentric Medical, please visit www.concentric-medical.com.

SOURCE Concentric Medical, Inc.