RapidPulse, Inc. has initiated patient enrollment in a pivotal Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) study evaluating its novel cyclic aspiration system for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treatment. The Miami-based company announced that researchers at three Barcelona hospitals—Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Bellvitge University Hospital, and Germans Trias i Pujols University Hospital—have begun using the patented RapidPulse® system in the trial.
The study aims to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the company's precisely pulsed aspiration technology in treating AIS, a condition that affects an estimated 700,000 people annually in the United States alone when blood clots obstruct cerebral blood flow.
Promising Clinical Results from Earlier Studies
Previous research has shown significant advantages with the RapidPulse system. "Across three studies evaluating this novel technology, operators achieved first-pass full reperfusion rates ranging from 60% to 69%—a substantial improvement over the 40% to 42% rates typically observed with current-generation devices," said Marc Ribo, M.D., Professor of Neurology at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital.
A study completed in 2024 and presented at the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology's annual meeting demonstrated that the RapidPulse® system enabled researchers to achieve a first-pass TICI score of 2c or higher in 68% of patients. TICI (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction) scores are the standard measure of blood flow restoration following mechanical thrombectomy procedures.
Another published study revealed that physicians using the RapidPulse® system achieved a 21-point improvement in first-pass clot removal rates, increasing from 38.5% with conventional static aspiration to 60% with the new technology.
Clinical and Economic Implications
The clinical significance of these improvements extends beyond technical success. Prior studies have demonstrated that patients experience lower rates of mortality and morbidity when clinicians can fully restore blood flow on the first attempt at clot removal. Additionally, better clot removal rates correlate with reduced hospital length of stay and overall healthcare system costs.
"The intelligent patented technology embedded in the RapidPulse® system delivers a precise and proprietary aspiration algorithm," explained Sean McBrayer, CEO of RapidPulse. "This IDE study is groundbreaking because it is the first time doctors in the U.S. will be able to employ a highly effective and easy-to-use aspiration system that intelligently modulates the vacuum energy being used to remove blood clots."
Study Design and Regulatory Pathway
The pivotal trial will expand to include up to 30 hospitals across the United States and Europe. Detailed information regarding the RapidPulse Pivotal Study endpoints and participating hospital systems is available on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Upon completion of the study, the data will be submitted to the FDA in consideration for receiving 510(k) clearance to market the device. McBrayer expressed confidence that the study results "will show our unique and proprietary method of removing clot will lead to a shift in the way doctors treat AIS in the future."
Company Background
RapidPulse's technology originated as a spin-out of Syntheon 2.0, LLC, an innovative medical device incubator with an established track record of successful exits. The company has secured investment from several venture capital firms, including Santé Ventures, Hatteras Venture Partners, Epidarex Capital, and Broadview Ventures.
The RapidPulse system represents a potential paradigm shift in mechanical thrombectomy procedures, offering a new approach to addressing the significant clinical challenge of acute ischemic stroke, which remains a leading cause of long-term disability and mortality worldwide.
