Medtronic commences new study of Valiant Evo thoracic stent graft system

Medtronic has commenced a new study that will generate new data on the performance of its new Valiant Evo thoracic stent graft system.

Conducted in partnership with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, the trial will enrol 100 patients in total across the US and EU and will assess the benefits of the system in the minimally invasive repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms.

The first patient has now been enrolled, with the first procedure to be performed as part of the study taking place involving an 88-year-old male patient who is doing well post-treatment.

Daveen Chopra, vice-president and general manager of Medtronic's aortic business, said: "By listening to physicians, we believe that this innovation may support greater access to less invasive treatment options for more patients globally."

The Valiant Evo system is a lower-profile evolution of the market-leading Valiant Captivia system and is designed to provide a minimally invasive treatment option, with a wider range of size configurations and high stent graft conformability.

Other features include broader tapered offerings and longer lengths for anatomical customisation, as well as an improved ergonomic delivery system.