Medtronic announces European launch of Defender embolic protection filter

Medtronic has announced that the awarding of a CE mark for its Defender embolic protection filter, together with the product’s European market launch.

The firm reports that the mesh device made from braided nitinol can be used to protect patients during minimally invasive cardiovascular stenting procedures.

Medtronic adds that the filter acts as a basket, allowing sufficient blood flow while also trapping potentially dangerous embolic debris that can become dislodged during stenting.

It has been used for the first time by vascular surgeons and interventional cardiologists in Spain and Germany.

The filter features a low profile and peel-away delivery sheath that facilitates the easy manoeuvre of the device by doctors across lesions to the desired location.

Rob ten Hoedt, vice-president of the cardiovascular business for Medtronic in western Europe, said: “While designing the Defender filter, we conducted extensive research with physicians to understand their needs and what they felt were the most important qualities in an embolic protection device.”

He added that physicians requested ease of use, a low crossing profile and superior deliverability, with the Defender filter engineered to meet these needs, even in patients with complex and challenging anatomies.

In March 2008, Medtronic announced the European launch of its Talent abdominal stent graft with a hydrophilic coating to aid navigation of medical devices.