The first device of its kind to undergo clinical evaluation in the United States, the Valiant "Mona LSA" branch thoracic stent graft system from Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) has demonstrated proof of concept in a first-in-human study being conducted under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s "Innovation Pathway" early feasibility pilot program, according to data presented today at the 2013 VEITHsymposium(tm).

A new network dedicated to advancing research and therapies for stroke is forming in Chicago thanks to $2 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Chicago Stroke Trials Consortium is a partnership among Northwestern Medicine®, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Loyola University Medical Center, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Rush University Medical Center, and University of Chicago Medicine that will build an infrastructure to support clinical trials for stroke prevention, treatment and recovery. Northwestern University will be the regional coordinating center for the consortium and administer the project over the next five years.

The American Heart Association today awarded its Clinical Research Prize for 2013 to Thomas Brott, M.D., “for his leadership of significant and innovative clinical research validating new procedures that have enhanced care of patients suffering stroke and helped to minimize or overcome its damaging effects.”

Veniti(TM), Inc. (Veniti), has received approval to CE Mark the Veniti Vici(TM) Venous Stent, specifically designed for the treatment of venous obstruction. In addition, the company received CE Mark approval for their varicose vein ablation product, the Veniti Veni(TM) RF Plus Ablation System. The CE Marks allow Veniti to sell products within the European Union.

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) allowing the company to initiate SYMPLICITY HTN-4, the first randomized trial to investigate renal denervation for the treatment of moderate uncontrolled hypertension in U.S. patients. 

AngioDynamics (Nasdaq:ANGO), a leading provider of innovative, minimally invasive medical devices for vascular access, surgery, peripheral vascular disease and oncology, today announced EU CE Mark approval for its AngioVac venous drainage cannula and cardiopulmonary bypass circuit for use during extracorporeal bypass for up to six hours. Under the CE Mark approval the AngioVac cannula is also approved for removal of fresh, soft thrombi or emboli.

Stroke is the second leading cause of death in Los Angeles County and the fourth in the U.S. In order to cut those numbers, it's imperative that new treatments be developed and refined for stroke prevention, acute therapy and recovery after stroke.

AccessClosure, Inc., the market leader in extravascular closure devices, announced today an exclusive agreement with Ostial Corporation to distribute the Flash Ostial System Dual Balloon Angioplasty Catheter in the United States. The Flash Ostial System is designed to help overcome the challenges of aorto-ostial stenting and compliments the Mynx® Product Family of Vascular Closure Devices to expand AccessClosure’s portfolio.