2009 Boston Scientific Corporation

New Way to Stop Stroke

About 55 facilities are participating in the National Institutes of Health-funded SAMMPRIS (Stenting & Aggressive Medical Management for Preventing Recurrent Stroke in Intracranial Stenosis) study to test the Wingspan flexible stent system that is designed to unclog and prop open delicate arteries located deep in the brain.

“This is a minimally invasive procedure performed through a pinhole incision in the groin, but it can have a life saving impact,” said Dr. Michael J. Alexander, director of the Cedars-Sinai Neurovascular Center and a member of the study’s steering committee.

According to the study protocol, the experimental stent may be placed within 30 days of stroke onset. Financial help may be available when the patient’s insurance does not cover the medical and surgical costs.

For more information and to contact participating centers, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov and enter the study identifier NCT00576693.