Nov 7, 2000
Guidant Announces CE Mark Approval of its MULTI-LINK PIXEL Coronary Stent System for Small Coronary Arteries
Indianapolis, Ind. and Santa Clara, Calif. - Guidant Corporation (NYSE and PCX: GDT), a world leader in the treatment of coronary artery disease, announced today CE Mark approval of its MULTI-LINK PIXEL(tm) Coronary Stent System, making the stent available in most European countries and in others that base regulatory clearance on the European CE Mark. The MULTI-LINK PIXEL System features a lesion-specific stent and delivery system designed to treat de novo (first-time) blockages in small native coronary arteries and small-diameter saphenous vein bypass grafts. "There is a significant need for a stent that addresses the clinical challenges caused by smaller diameter coronary arteries," said David A. Cox, M.D., of the Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, N.C. "The MULTI-LINK PIXEL Coronary Stent is a minimally invasive means of treating these vessels." Small vessels are defined as those with diameters of less than 3.0mm - approximately 25 percent of atherosclerotic lesions occur in such vessels. Approximately 1.5 million people worldwide undergo coronary angioplasty and related interventional procedures each year. The MULTI-LINK PIXEL Stent is specifically designed for use in small vessels. Its 5-crest design pattern features a 3-3-3 link design and a reduced strut thickness of .0039 in. The MULTI-LINK PIXEL System is Guidant's lowest profile stent system with a crossing profile approximately 10 percent smaller than Guidant's MULTI-LINK TETRA(tm) Coronary Stent System. Guidant's MULTI-LINK PIXEL System also features several unique Guidant technologies that include: "The European launch of the MULTI-LINK PIXEL System further supports Guidant's goal of developing lesion-specific stent systems to complement our existing line of systems for the broader patient population," said John M. Capek, Ph.D., president of Guidant's Vascular Intervention Group. "The introduction of the MULTI-LINK PIXEL Stent follows the launch of the MULTI-LINK ULTRA(tm) Coronary Stent System for large coronary arteries, Guidant's first lesion-specific stent." A global leader in the medical technology industry, Guidant Corporation provides innovative, minimally invasive and cost-effective products and services for the treatment of cardiovascular and vascular disease.