Silk Road Medical Appoints Ground Breaking Innovator as Chief Technology Officer

SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Silk Road Medical, Inc., a developer of advanced devices for the transcarotid treatment of intra- and extra-cranial cerebrovascular disease, announced today the appointment of Michael P. Wallace to the position of Chief Technology Officer.  In this new role, Michael will lead the company's Research and Development efforts across its family of transcarotid access and treatment devices.

Prior to joining Silk Road Medical, Michael was the Vice President of Research and Development at Boston Scientific's Electrophysiology Division and previously held senior technical leadership roles at Baxano Surgical, Inc., BARRx Medical, and Boston Scientific Neurovascular / Target Therapeutics. He has over 20 years of experience in the medical device field and holds over 120 issued or pending US patents.

"The addition of Mike Wallace completes the all-star executive line up at Silk Road.  Our executives are deeply experienced in the fields of carotid and neurovascular diseases and are considered the best in the industry across marketing, clinical, operations, and R&D. Our impressive executive team and the recently announced completion of enrollment in our pivotal ROADSTER Trial positions Silk Road Medical for the promising future of transcarotid interventions," said Erica Rogers, President and Chief Executive Officer.

"I am thrilled to join Silk Road to lead the R&D team through the commercial development of its pioneering and unique ENROUTE™ Transcarotid Neuroprotection and Stent Systems for treating blockages in the artery of the neck.  Despite decades of development, traditional transfemoral carotid stenting (CAS) has been associated with an excess risk of stroke due to aortic arch catheterization and less than ideal embolic protection devices.  With Silk Road's surgically-inspired approach, we believe we can reduce the risk of stroke on par with the gold standard of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) while preserving the benefits of a less invasive stenting procedure," said Mike. "Looking forward, I am also equally excited about the opportunity to help patients with neurovascular diseases by developing a suite of products that highlights the surgeon control and procedure time advantages we believe are possible with our transcarotid access point."

About the ENROUTE Transcarotid Neuroprotection and Stent Systems

The Silk Road procedure includes a combination direct carotid access sheath and dynamic flow reversal circuit, and a carotid stent. After a tiny incision is made at the neckline, the physician inserts a small tube, called a sheath, into the carotid artery.  The sheath is connected to a device that temporarily re-directs blood flow away from the brain.  Reversing the blood flow allows a physician to place a stent inside the blockage without risk of plaque breaking off and traveling up toward the brain.  After the stent is placed successfully, flow reversal is turned off and blood flow resumes in its normal direction.  Typically, the Silk Road procedure is performed under local anesthesia and can significantly minimize recovery time and scarring for the patient.  

About Silk Road Medical, Inc.

Silk Road Medical, Inc. is a private company located in Sunnyvale, CA, that develops and manufactures minimally-invasive medical devices intended to improve the treatment of intra- and extra-cranial cerebrovascular disease through proprietary transcarotid access and treatment platforms.  Detailed information about Silk Road Medical can be found at www.silkroadmed.com.

Both the ENROUTE Transcarotid NPS and Stent System have been granted CE Mark. The ENROUTE NPS is limited by United States law to investigational use. The ENROUTE Transcarotid Stent System is not currently available in the United States.

SOURCE Silk Road Medical, Inc.