|
MEDICAL DEVICE DAILY™THE DAILY MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY NEWSPAPERFRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2009 VOL. 13, NO. 73 PAGE 1 OF 8Report from EuropeMinnow Medical looking to be big fish in Europe’s PAD pondA Medical Device Daily Staff ReportMinnow Medical (San Diego), a developer of products to treat artery disease, reported receipt of the CE Mark, clearing its disposable catheter for marketing in the European Union. The catheter utilizes the company’s Guided Reshaping Technology (GRT) to treat peripheral artery disease (PAD). GRT treats artery disease by precise delivery of controlled radio frequency (RF) energy to open diseased arteries. The RF energy is delivered through electrodes on the surface of a disposable angioplasty balloon catheter. “We are . . . pleased to receive the CE mark, and look forward to continuing to educate the European market about the advantages of our technology to treat PAD,” said President/CEO Tom Steinke. “Our catheter system is easy to use, and involves a shorter, less-complex procedure compared with angioplasty, atherectomy or laser treatments.” He added, “We believe our technology represents a breakthrough that could dramatically reduce the use of stents in peripheral procedures.” Minnow is conducting clinical trials in Europe with a first-generation version of the catheter system. Peripheral artery disease affects some 27 million people in North America and Europe, and many of the current treatments provide only limited or short-term benefit. Minnow said. The PAD device treatment market is estimated at $1.2 billion a year in the U.S. alone. Minnow Medical is a developmental-stage company founded in 2003. |
