ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 2014-- Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (CSI) (NASDAQ: CSII), today announced that it has received CE (Conformité Européenne) Mark for its Stealth 360º Orbital Atherectomy System (OAS). Stealth 360 is a percutaneous OAS that is indicated to treat patients who suffer from peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
“Securing CE Mark for Stealth 360 greatly expands our market opportunity and is an important milestone toward benefiting patients in Europe suffering from PAD—especially those with critical limb ischemia, (CLI) who have been underserved by other treatment options,” said David L. Martin, CSI president and chief executive officer. “A determining factor for CLI is calcium buildup in leg arteries, particularly small vessels below the knee. Our technology, with its unique mechanism of action, has demonstrated it can safely and effectively treat this complex disease, with lasting results.”
PAD is a common circulatory disease in which plaque deposits build up on the walls of blood vessels, reducing blood flow. In Europe and North America, an estimated 27 million individuals are affected with PAD. CLI is a chronic, severe form of PAD that affects approximately 2.7 million people in North America and 3.3 million in Western Europe. Plaque ranges from soft to calcified. Calcified and fibrotic deposits are the most difficult to treat with traditional interventional procedures and are more common in older patients. With risk factors such as diabetes and obesity on the rise, the prevalence of PAD is growing at double-digit rates.
Stealth 360 will be available in Europe with a 0.014” guide wire platform, and crown sizes of 1.25mm, 1.50mm, 1.75mm and 2.00mm. The system consists of the following main components: Orbital Atherectomy Device, Saline Pump, Atherectomy guide wire and Atherectomy lubricant—all of which received CE Mark.
Concluded Martin, “We are excited to be able to offer our OAS technology as a solution to millions of PAD sufferers outside of the United States and are currently evaluating the timing and structure of our plans to commercialize our products in Europe.”
About Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
In Europe and North America, an estimated 27 million individuals are affected with PAD, which is caused by the accumulation of plaque in peripheral arteries (commonly the pelvis or leg) reducing blood flow. Symptoms include leg pain when walking or at rest. Left untreated, PAD can lead to severe pain, immobility, non-healing wounds and eventually limb amputation. With risk factors such as diabetes and obesity on the rise, the prevalence of PAD is growing at double-digit rates.
Millions of patients with PAD may benefit from treatment with orbital atherectomy utilizing CSI’s Peripheral Orbital Atherectomy Systems, minimally invasive catheter systems developed and manufactured by CSI. These systems use a diamond-coated crown, attached to an orbiting shaft, which sands away plaque while preserving healthy vessel tissue — a critical factor in preventing reoccurrences. Balloon angioplasty and stents have significant shortcomings in treating hard, calcified lesions. Stents are prone to fractures and high recurrence rates, and treatment of hard, calcified lesions often leads to vessel damage and suboptimal results.
About Cardiovascular Systems, Inc.
Cardiovascular Systems, Inc., based in St. Paul, Minn., is a medical device company focused on developing and commercializing innovative solutions for treating vascular and coronary disease. The company’s Orbital Atherectomy Systems treat calcified and fibrotic plaque in arterial vessels throughout the leg and heart in a few minutes of treatment time, and address many of the limitations associated with existing surgical, catheter and pharmacological treatment alternatives. The U.S. FDA granted 510(k) clearance for the use of the Diamondback Orbital Atherectomy System in peripheral arteries in August 2007. In October 2013, the company received FDA approval for the use of the Diamondback Orbital Atherectomy System in coronary arteries. To date, nearly 170,000 of CSI’s devices have been sold to leading institutions across the United States.