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Registry and recreated different ones in benchtop experiments so that they can better understand which procedures and techniques are most effective to remove clots .
Thanks to this research , Cerenovus launched a suite of technologies called Cerenovus Stroke Solutions™ in 2020 . The goal : Make it easier and quicker for doctors to reach and remove a clot when they perform a thrombectomy .
“ If the entire clot doesn ’ t come out at the first attempt , what remains is often more of a challenge to remove ,” explains Gilvarry . “ Clots that require several attempts to remove tend to have fewer red blood cells and more proteins , including fibrin , which make them stiffer and harder to remove than red-cell dominant clots .”
Cerenovus has three devices that help doctors successfully remove clots :
• A sheath that helps doctors reach the clot .
• A balloon guide catheter that optimises removal of clots by controlling blood flow locally during mechanical thrombectomy procedures . The Emboguard™ Balloon Guide Catheter , as it ’ s known , allows doctors to get to the clot faster , with more stability and support . “ It ’ s designed to be more flexible at one end to navigate through arteries with a lot of curves in them and to be stiffer at the other end to provide stability during the procedure ,” explains Gilvarry .
• A stent retriever that ’ s designed to grip clots more effectively . Research shows that the Embotrap ® III Revascularization Device , as the stent retriever is known , is able to remove more clots on the first try , something known as first-pass recanalisation . “ We know that if you can remove a clot in a single pass , it improves patient outcomes and speeds up recovery time ,” says Gilvarry . The hope is that Embotrap will help prevent stroke-related longterm disabilities . Gilvarry recalls meeting with a 38-yearold woman who had the procedure done with the Embotrap device after a stroke . “ Right before the procedure started , she couldn ’ t even raise or squeeze her hand ,” he says .
“ By the end of the procedure , which lasted around 20 minutes , she had full use of her arms and hands again .” While results vary from patient to patient , this experience left a memorable impression and reaffirms why his work is so important for patients .
The treatment for haemorrhagic stroke differs from that of an ischemic stroke . Rather than remove a clot , the goal is to prevent the aneurysm from rupturing and causing a brain bleed or prevent re-rupturing from an aneurysm that has already bled .
Until the 1990s , doctors did this by placing a clamp at the base of the aneurysm , or burst blood vessel , to prevent further bleeding . But it ’ s major surgery and requires putting a patient under general anaesthesia .
Doctors have since turned to a newer procedure , aneurysm embolization , which is less invasive . The most popular way to embolise an aneurysm is with coils . A doctor inserts a catheter into a groin , arm or wrist artery , and the catheter is then guided along blood vessels in the body until it reaches the aneurysm in the brain .
The doctor places tiny coils into the aneurysm , which in turn triggers a blood clot that blocks blood flow from entering into the aneurysm . “ While there are other newer devices also touted to
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treat aneurysms , like flow diverters that decrease blood flow to the area , coils continue to be used as a safe treatment option for aneurysm ,” says Melissa Clinger , a neurovascular research and development manager at Cerenovus .
The challenge of this procedure is to get the coil up to the aneurysm quickly and safely . That ’ s why Cerenovus created Cerepak™ Detachable Coils designed to embolise aneurysms from start to finish .
The coils are shaped specifically to fill an aneurysm , and they also have a large volume , which allows them to fill the area faster . They received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration last year and are being introduced in physician offices now .
PREVENTING STROKES FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE
Fascinating fact : Up to 90 per cent of all strokes are preventable . One of the best ways to lower your risk is to get underlying medical conditions under control , says Dr Browne .
High blood pressure , for example , is a leading risk factor for stroke - in fact , some research suggests it ’ s responsible for almost half of all strokes . Type 2 diabetes , high cholesterol and being overweight or obese also raise risk .
If you ’ re over the age of 65 , you should also be aware of atrial fibrillation ( AFib ), an irregular and often very rapid heart rhythm ( arrhythmia ) that increases the risk of blood clots . People with AFib are about five times as likely to have a stroke as those without it .
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Embotrap ® III Revascularisation Device |
That ’ s why Johnson & Johnson is researching new treatments for people with AFib . For example , the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson is currently studying a new anticoagulant for patients who are currently untreated or undertreated with existing treatments due to the risk of bleeding .
And the company ’ s Heartline Study aims to determine whether an app-based heart health engagement programme , used in combination with Apple Watch ’ s Irregular Rhythm Notification feature and ECG app , can potentially help lead to the earlier detection and diagnosis of AFib .
While companies like Johnson & Johnson are doing ground-breaking research into stroke prevention and treatment , the best way to protect yourself , stresses Dr Browne , is to know the signs of a stroke . The American Stroke Association uses the acronym FAST to spot signs of a stroke :
If it turns out that you have , indeed , had a stroke , your doctor may prescribe medications for you to take to reduce further risk , including medications such as blood thinners . “ There ’ s an expression that ‘ time saved is brain saved ,’ ” says Dr Browne . “ Time is of the essence with a stroke . The faster you act , the faster you ’ ll be able to get lifesaving care .” – The Health
This article appeared recently on the website of Johnson & Johnson
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