FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (March 6, 2017) – W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. (Gore) today announced the Health Canada approval of the GORE® TIGRIS® Vascular Stent, a dual-component stent with a unique fluoropolymer / nitinol design. The GORE TIGRIS Device, which gained CE Mark approval in 2011, is a third generation, self-expanding stent. The device was designed explicitly to improve anatomical conformability with the natural movement of the knee when treating Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD).

The newly-approved GORE TIGRIS Vascular Stent uses a dual component structure, made from a single-wire nitinol stent with flexible and biocompatible fluoropolymer interconnections. The stent has been designed to weather biomechanical forces (extension, compression, flexion, and torsion) without fractures, even in the most complex anatomies, namely in the superficial femoral artery (SFA) and popliteal arteries. In the U.S. clinical study that supported FDA approval of the GORE TIGRIS Vascular Stent, the GORE TIGRIS Vascular Stent was found to have zero fractures at 12 months, while the control arm devices experienced a 27 percent fracture rate at the same time point.

The new device builds on the company’s long history and experience with stenting, which spans more than two decades. The GORE TIGRIS Vascular Stent also features Gore's CBAS Heparin Surface, the proven, lasting heparin bonding technology designed to resist thrombus formation, a problem common in both bare metal and drug-eluting stents. End-point covalent bonding keeps heparin anchored to the stent surface, while the bioactive site remains free to interact with the blood to help prevent clotting.

“At Gore, we pride ourselves in continuous evaluation of how our technologies can benefit patients. To design an uncovered stent that navigates and conforms to the complex anatomy of the artery, we leveraged our long history with endovascular devices to develop the GORE TIGRIS Vascular Stent. The addition of this device to our peripheral interventional portfolio enables physicians to treat more diverse cases with Gore’s best in class products,” said Ray Swinney, Business Unit Leader for the Gore Peripheral Interventional Business Unit.

The evolution of peripheral stenting over the past decade has allowed for broader adoption of endovascular therapy for treating PAD. When physicians began placing stents in the SFA they were limited by first generation stent designs that had longitudinal metal connections which led to arterial stiffening, high fracture rates and poorer clinical outcomes. Improvements in second generation devices introduced helical interconnections to improve flexibility; however, their success in high flexion vessels, like the distal SFA and PPA, was still limited.* The introduction of third generation stents, including the GORE TIGRIS Vascular Stent, allow for better adherence in some of the more intricate vessels in the body.

PAD is prevalent in older populations, a rapidly growing demographic in developed countries. In Canada alone, as many as 800,000 people suffer from some form of PAD (https://www.woundscanada.ca/11-patient-caregiver/7-pad). The disease can manifest in mild symptoms such as chronic leg pain, and more serious complications include poor wound healing, increased risk of stroke, and amputation. Endovascular treatment, via angioplasty and stenting of a blocked artery, is designed to treat PAD without the complications that can accompany open surgery.

For more information on the GORE TIGRIS Vascular Stent and the endovascular treatment of PAD, please visit http://www.goremedical.com/tigriseu

*Thaveau F, Méteyer V, LeJay A, Chakfé N. Latest generation of conforming dual component stent. In:
Greenhalgh RM, ed. Charing Cross 2016-Vascular & Endovascular Challenges Update. 2016 ed. Fulham, London, United Kingdom: BIBA Publishing; 2016:423-428.

Gore Medical Products Division 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. Gore is joined in service with clinicians and through this collaboration we are improving lives. www.goremedical.com

Products listed may not be available in all markets.
CBAS is a trademark of Carmeda AB, a wholly owned subsidiary of W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. GORE® and TIGRIS® are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates.  AV0837-EN3  MARCH 2017

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. The company is also known for its strong, team-oriented culture and continued recognition from the Great Place to Work® Institute. Headquartered in Newark, Del., Gore employs approximately 10,000 Associates and generates annual revenues that exceed $3 billion. www.gore.com

Gore Medical Press Team
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