Arterio-venous malformations (AVMs) are abnormal blood vessel networks that result in unusually high blood flow between arteries and veins in the brain. The resulting pressure imbalances caused by the increased blood flow puts the malformed blood vessels at serious risk of hemorrhage or rupture, which can lead to stroke, severe disability or death.
Micro Therapeutics’ treatment device is utilized by neurovascular specialists, including interventional neuro-radiologists, to block or fill in the abnormal blood vessel connections in order to reduce pressure and significantly decrease the risk of bleeding.
Onyx is intended to provide physicians with some significant advantages in the treatment process over the current standard. Because the material is non-adherent and will not stick to the catheter, the physician is not forced to work as quickly once the material is injected. This extended working time, in turn, enables the physician to control the delivery of the material to the abnormal blood vessels, monitor the ongoing therapy as it is in process and inject and occlude (block) larger portions of the AVM than was previously possible.
According to Dr Gary Duckwiler, principal investigator for the study at University of California and president of the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology (ASITN), “The study results show that Onyx is a safe medial device that gives physicians a valuable treatment option that can result in better patient outcomes.”
The study results were obtained from a multi-center, randomized study including 108 patients treated at 20 US hospitals. The results were presented at the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology (ASITN) Annual Meeting in Oahu, Hawaii.