Lombard Medical Introduces Aorfix in Japan

September 2, 2014—Lombard Medical marked the introduction of the Aorfix endovascular stent graft in Japan with the first two postapproval procedures using the device. The Aorfix graft was debuted at the Japan Endovascular Symposium in Tokyo. Lombard Medical’s distribution partner in Japan is Medico’s Hirata Inc.

On August 5, the company announced that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare approved the device for the endovascular aneurysm repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms, including the treatment of patients with aortic neck angulations up to 90°. 

The first two cases in Japan were performed by Takao Ohki, MD, at Tokyo Jikei Medical University and by Masaaki Kato, MD, at Morinomiya Hospital in Osaka. Dr. Ohki is Professor and Chief of the Department of Vascular Surgery at Tokyo Jikei Medical University. Dr. Kato is Chief of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at Morinomiya Hospital.

In the company’s press release, Dr. Ohki commented, “I am pleased that Aorfix can address unmet needs, which could not be achievable with other devices, and this device will surely be of great benefit to patients.” Dr. Kato added, “Aorfix is a novel, easy-to-use device that performs well in anatomies where standard devices could struggle. I believe Aorfix could become a leading AAA device option in Japan.”  

At the Japan Endovascular Symposium, Nilo Mosquera, MD, of Ourense, Spain, presented the combined European experience of Aorfix in complex anatomy. Noting that he performs the majority of his cases percutaneously, Dr. Mosquera stated, “Aorfix is my go-to graft for infrarenal aneurysms because of its unique ability to navigate and conform to tortuous iliacs.”