Neurovascular Stent for Use in Brain Aneurysms

A stent has been designed specifically for intracranial use in the treatment of brain aneurysms, providing an alternative treatment option for patients who are high-risk surgical candidates. The stent has received the CE Mark of approval.

The new stent, called Inx, is intended for use in combination with other embolic devices or materials to isolate aneurysms and reduce or eliminate the risk of aneurysm expansion and eventual bursting. This technique is useful in instances where the aneurysm has a wide neck, and coils might migrate into the blood vessel, causing a stroke. The Inx stent is placed across the aneurysm, thus trapping the embolic coils within the aneurysm.

Developed by Medtronic, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN, USA), the Inx stent is delivered by the company's sinusoidal pattern and special balloon technology that provide a high degree of flexibility, enabling easy threading through the arteries of the head and neck. Additional clinical trials are under way. Several are investigating the use of the stent to treat intracranial, atherosclerotic lesions.



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Medtronic, Inc.