Medinol has announced the successful first-in-human implantation of the ChampioNIR drug-eluting peripheral stent in Melbourne, Australia. Gerard S Goh and Thodur Vasudevan of the Alfred Hospital performed the procedure.
The ChampioNIR stent is designed to improve patient outcomes and procedural success through its hybrid mechanical design. The stent's metallic component provides radial support, while a bioresorbable polymeric mesh offers longitudinal structure, enhancing flexibility and long-term durability, even in challenging anatomies.
Unique Drug-Elution Technology
A key feature of the ChampioNIR stent is its drug-elution paradigm, which releases drug from the entire cylindrical area of the stent. This approach reduces diffusion distances and enables therapeutic dosing of large peripheral vessels with a 'limus' drug over an extended period.
Physician Feedback
Goh, head of interventional radiology at The Alfred Hospital, noted the stent's ease of use: "We were impressed with ChampioNIR’s deliverability and its straightforward deployment. The frictionless deployment mechanism made the precise positioning of the stent very straightforward."
Company Perspective
Yoram Richter, chief executive officer of Medinol, stated, "Medinol is excited to bring to clinical practice the culmination of years of research and development into novel stent designs, tailor-made for unmet clinical challenges in vascular interventions."
CHAMPIONSHIP Study Details
The CHAMPIONSHIP study will enroll a total of 30 patients across seven sites in Australia and the USA. Sahil Parikh of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, the study's principal investigator, commented: "The ChampioNIR stent represents a breakthrough in treatment for superficial femoral artery (SFA) lesions. I am excited to see this device come to life after years of development."
