Gore Launches Lower-Profile Excluder AAA Endoprosthesis Contralateral Leg Components

March 11, 2013—Gore & Associates (Flagstaff, AZ) announced the United States and European launch of lower-profile contralateral leg components for the Gore Excluder abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) endoprosthesis. The reduced profile sizes allow the 12–20-mm contralateral leg component to be used with a 12-F Gore DrySeal sheath, the 23-mm to be used with a 14-F introducer sheath, and the 27-mm to be used with a 15-F introducer sheath. Earlier this year, Gore launched the lower-profile, 31-mm-diameter trunk-ipsilateral leg and 32-mm aortic extender components and the 18-F compatible, 35-mm trunk-ipsilateral leg and 36-mm aortic extender.

Gore noted that no changes have been made to the Excluder device. Instead, the company is using its expanded polytetrafluoroethylene materials to constrain the device onto the catheter. The lowering of contralateral leg sizing is intended to improve patient safety while maintaining ease of use for the delivery of the Excluder device. The new, reduced-profile 31-mm and 35-mm trunk-ipsilateral leg components will only be available with the Gore C3 delivery system, advised the company.

“The reduced-profile components provide physicians with a proven and durable endovascular option to better treat AAAs,” commented Ross Milner, MD, in the company's press release. Dr. Milner is Associate Professor of Surgery, Codirector of the Center for Aortic Diseases, and Associate Program Director of Vascular Surgery Fellowship at the University of Chicago Medical Center. He added, “Reducing the access requirements allows more patients to benefit from endovascular treatment, a critical development as minimally invasive AAA repair becomes the preferred method of treatment.”