Terumo Aortic’s RelayPro “Upon Request” Program Commercially Launched

January 14, 2022—Terumo Aortic announced the first commercial implant of a RelayPro thoracic stent graft system developed through the company’s “Upon Request” program in the United States. On August 6, 2021, the company announced FDA approval of the nonbare RelayPro device for use in thoracic endovascular aortic repair for patients with small access vessels to treat thoracic aortic aneurysms and penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers.

The company advised that with the “Upon Request” program, there are approximately 2,000 stent graft configurations approved by the FDA, which allows physicians significantly more solutions to fit the anatomic needs of each patient. These configurations offer devices that can taper from a larger diameter on top of the device and tapering down by as much as 18 mm at the bottom, or a smaller diameter on top and flaring by as much as 18 mm larger on the bottom.

The first commercial implant of an “Upon Request” RelayPro device was performed by Mazin Foteh, MD, a vascular surgeon at the Heart Hospital of Austin, Texas. Dr. Foteh commented in the company’s press release, “The opportunity to tailor the stent graft system to precisely match the anatomy of the patient was hugely valuable as it allowed me to accommodate a big gap of the proximal and distal diameters with a single device. This first procedure was very successful, the device performed exactly as expected, and the patient is making a good recovery.”