Clinical Challenge:

Ischemic stroke is the most common type of cerebral stroke, accounting for about 70 to 80 percent of all strokes. It occurs when a blood clot forms and blocks blood flow in an artery bringing blood to the brain.

What’s Next:

• We are exploring cooling technology or systemic hypothermia, which could extend the therapeutic window or increase the amount of time until a patient is treated, reducing damage to brain tissue.

• Mechanical retrieval devices are also being investigated as a less-invasive approach to the removal of clots and embolic tissue. These devices may take the form of brushes, filters, baskets or miniature vacuums.

• We also plan to leverage our current stent technology in the development of intracranial stents that treat atherosclerotic disease in the brain.