First European Patient Receives Implant of GORE EXCLUDER Conformable AAA Endoprosthesis

W. L. Gore & Associates Inc. (Gore) announced the first European patient implant of the GORE EXCLUDER Conformable AAA Endoprosthesis with ACTIVE CONTROL System. This next-generation endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) device is indicated to treat the broadest range of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) in patients with challenging anatomies. Physicians now have an EVAR solution designed to treat patients previously excluded due to challenging proximal aortic necks.
 
The GORE EXCLUDER Conformable AAA Endoprosthesis with ACTIVE CONTROL System is CE Mark approved for patients with proximal aortic neck angles of up to 90 degrees with a minimum 15 mm aortic neck length or in patients with proximal aortic neck angles of up to 60 degrees with a 10 mm minimum aortic neck length.

The successful procedure took place on Sept. 11 at Catharina Hospital in Eindhoven, Netherlands, by Marc van Sambeek, M.D. The patient was also the first enrollment in an investigator initiated post-market European registry, known as EXCeL (EXcluder Conformable real Life), of which van Sambeek is the principal investigator.
 
“Before this device, EVAR was reserved for patients whose aorta fell within a standard shape and size,” said Prof. van Sambeek. “The conformability of the new GORE EXCLUDER Conformable Device in combination with the angulation control of the new delivery system will allow us to offer a less invasive, lower-risk alternative to open surgery to more AAA patients than ever before. The EXCeL registry will track the real-world effectiveness and safety of the device, and I look forward to enrolling additional patients with challenging, highly angulated aortic anatomies and seeing the long-term value of this device.”
 
The EXCeL registry will enroll 150 patients from up to 11 European sites. Data from the registry will assess safety and treatment success of the GORE EXCLUDER Conformable AAA Device for the treatment of infrarenal AAA in a broad range of anatomic presentations. The device is also currently being evaluated in a pivotal investigational U.S. study, in which the first patient was enrolled on Dec. 19, 2017.
 
The GORE EXCLUDER Conformable AAA Device builds on the clinical performance of the GORE EXCLUDER AAA Endoprosthesis, which represents over 20 years of worldwide experience and more than 300,000 patients treated,* a history unmatched by currently available AAA stent grafts. The new device leverages the limb design of the GORE EXCLUDER Device which has demonstrated exceptional clinical performance as evidenced by 0.5 percent limb occlusion through three-year follow-up.** The limbs, a unique combination of proprietary ePTFE graft material and a fully supported, nested, nitinol stent, are designed to prevent kinking and occlusion.
 
The new device introduces the GORE ACTIVE CONTROL System in AAA treatment. This new delivery system includes a conformable stent graft, enhanced device positioning, and optional angulation control. To enhance positioning, the device is deployed partially constrained and the physician has the option to reconstrain the proximal end of the device to aide in achieving optimal device placement. During the deployment process, the physician may use the optional angulation control to angle the device to achieve orthogonal placement to the aortic blood flow lumen and to maximize device conformability and seal.
 
“With this first implant in Europe, we are continuing our commitment to offer the broadest and most technically advanced endovascular treatment capabilities to physicians and their patients,” said Eric Zacharias, Vascular Business leader. “We are dedicated to developing technology that enables physicians to better treat challenging aortic anatomies. By collaborating with physicians, we’ve evolved our market-leading GORE EXCLUDER Device to enable more patients to be treated with EVAR.”
 
The GORE EXCLUDER Conformable AAA Device is part of the family of endovascular products that share a mission to effectively treat aortic disease, backed by Gore’s clinical support team and educational offerings.† The portfolio of products also includes the GORE TAG Conformable Thoracic Stent Graft with ACTIVE CONTROL System for the treatment of thoracic aneurysms, transections, and Type B dissections; the GORE EXCLUDER Iliac Branch Endoprosthesis, the first complete, all-in-one system approved in Europe for the endovascular treatment of common iliac artery aneurysms or aortoiliac aneurysms; and the GORE VIABAHN VBX Balloon Expandable Endoprosthesis for treatment of de novo or restenotic lesions, including lesions at the aortic bifurcation.

* Based on the number of Trunk-Ipsilateral Legs distributed.
 
** GREAT. n = 3,273. To calculate the overall event rates from procedure through end of study period, all subjects who could have had events, regardless of length of follow-up, were included. For outcome data, GREAT only collects site reported serious adverse events.
 
† For complete indications and other important safety information for Gore commercial products referenced herein, refer to the applicable Instructions for Use (IFU).
 
Gore engineers devices that treat a range of cardiovascular and other health conditions. With more than 40 million medical devices implanted over the course of more than 40 years, Gore builds on its legacy of improving patient outcomes through research, education and quality initiatives. Product performance, ease of use and quality of service provide sustainable cost savings for physicians, hospitals and insurers.

W. L. Gore & Associates is a global materials science company dedicated to transforming industries and improving lives. Founded in 1958, Gore has built a reputation for solving complex technical challenges in the most demanding environments—from revolutionizing the outerwear industry with GORE-TEX fabric to creating medical devices that improve and save lives to enabling new levels of performance in the aerospace, pharmaceutical and mobile electronics markets, among other industries. Headquartered in Newark, Del., Gore employs 9,500 associates and generates annual revenues of $3.5 billion.