The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new device “… that is intended to prevent ruptures of descending thoracic aneurysms by making a new path for blood flow. The GORE TAG Endoprosthesis System is the first endovascular grafting system approved to treat aneurysms of the thoracic aorta, the main artery that carries blood in the body.” The product is by W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
The company describes its product:
Traditional treatment of diseases of the thoracic aorta has involved high-risk surgery requiring a large incision in the chest to place a synthetic graft to repair the diseased artery. This method can result in long hospital stays and painful recoveries. Today, the medical community is seeking less invasive alternatives to this major open surgical approach.
Gore’s TAG Thoracic Endoprosthesis is an innovative device designed to be a minimally invasive treatment option to patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms. It is comprised of an ePTFE graft with an outer self-expanding nitinol support structure to combine both device flexibility and material durability. The function of the endoprosthesis is to internally reline the thoracic aorta and exclude the diseased segment from blood circulation. The device is inserted by a catheter-based delivery technique through a small incision in the patient’s leg. The expected outcomes of this new treatment option include decreased procedural times, potential for reduced morbidity and shorter hospital stays.
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