19th October 2009 -ClearStream Technologies exhibits at CIRSE Congress   ClearStream Technologies was one of the sponsors of the recent CIRSE Congress, held in Lisbon on 19th to 23rd September  2009. CIRSE is the largest Congress for Interventional Radiologists in Europe, with over 5,300 delegates attending.   ClearStream launched two of its exciting new products at the meeting, which were featured at the company’s exhibition booth. The new 280mm balloon, which is being introduced initially on the Bantam catheter, is the longest PTA balloon on the market and supercedes the 220mm balloon marketed by ClearStream.  The Bantam Florian, which was also launched at the meeting, is an 0.018” catheter specifically designed for PTA of AV Fistulae. Florian was introduced to a large number of clinicians who visited the ClearStream booth, and a significant number of centres were signed up to conduct early clinical assessments.                         Many clinicians attended the ClearStream booth for further information on other ClearStream products, especially Bantam Alpha and ReeKross, both of which featured very favourably in discussions during the main congress sessions.  .   ClearStream hosted an international group of clinicians at the excellent Gala dinner organised by the CIRSE Foundation which was held on the final evening.   The CIRSE Congress was effectively used to increase the profile of ClearStream Technologies, to showcase the company’s product range, to generate a large number of high quality sales leads, and to further develop the company’s association with international Key Opinion Leaders, many of whom frequented the ClearStream booth.   Pictured at the ClearStream booth is Dr. Marco Manzi, Casa di Cura, Abano Terme, Italy, pioneer of the ‘Plantar Loop Technique, and user of the Bantam Alpha catheter. 3rd June 2009 -  EXCELLENT RESULTS FOR INTREPIDE AT INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON INTRAVASCULAR IMAGING A number of live cases using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) which featured INTREPIDE were performed at the 'OCT, IVUS, FFR: Where, When, How' Meeting in Bergamo, Italy, on Friday 29th May 2009. This important international course utilised the latest innovations in OCT, Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS), Virtual Histology (VH) and Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR), and showed how they can be used to optimise percutaneous procedures, such as angioplasty and stenting. Further details of the meeting can be found at http://www.ptca.org/news/2009/0525_OCT.html   The two cases that featured INTREPIDE used OCT to examine the level of re-endothelialisation at 3 months after the patients had originally undergone an angioplasty procedure. The cases clearly showed that full re-endothelialisation had occurred at 3 months, with no occurrence of in-stent restenosis. The achievement of full re-endothelialisation (ie, full coverage of all stent struts) is vital in preventing Late Stent Thrombosis (LST). The current generation of stents that elute Paclitaxel and Sirolimus (and its analogues) may delay this process of re-endothelialisation, thereby increasing the risk of LST and requiring patients to be put on long term dual anti-platelet therapy. These excellent results for the INTREPIDE Stent strengthen the claims that INTREPIDE may provide a solution to the problem of LST, and that it may allow the duration of dual anti-platelet therapy to be reduced safely. They also strengthen the positioning of INTREPIDE as being the ideal DES for those patients at high risk of Late Stent Thrombosis, eg, those requiring surgery, at risk of bleeding, diabetics, etc.   These results back up the outstanding clinical results of the PATIENT APT Registry in terms of efficacy and safety- in PATIENT APT 75% of patients were removed from dual anti-platelet therapy at 3 months, with no incidence of Late Stent Thrombosis recorded at 2 years, and with a TLR rate of only 5.8%.   The following photograph shows an image of one of the OCT scans which clearly shows a smooth layer of endothelium covering the inside of the INTREPIDE stent.       2nd June 2009 - ClearStream Technologies exhibits at PCR congress   ClearStream Technologies were exhibitors at the recent PCR Congress, held in Barcelona on 19th to 22nd May 2009. PCR is the largest Congress for Interventional Cardiologists in Europe, with over 8,000 delegates attending.                          The ClearStream Booth was well attended by clinicians who were informed about the recent approval for the use of the INTREPIDE Trapidil-Eluting Stent in diabetic patients, and its potential to prevent late stent thrombosis. The new Nimbus Pico Pre-dilatation Catheter, and the new FlexeCTO Catheter for treating Chronic Total Occlusions in tortuous vessels, were also promoted strongly at the booth, generating great interest.   On Wednesday evening, an INTREPIDE Clinical Meeting was held at the Rafael Hotel, close to the Congress Centre. The meeting was attended by clinicians from a wide range of countries. Dr Niall Mulvihill, St James’s Hospital, Dublin, began the meeting by giving an overview of late stent thrombosis in the current generation of Drug-Eluting Stents and how Intrepide may provide a solution to this serious problem. This was followed by an update on the ongoing IClarity Registry, of which he is Principal Investigator. This update highlighted the increasing rate of patient recruitment into the Registry, which will lead the recruitment of 1,000 patients by the end of 2009. Dr Mazhar Khan, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, then gave an update of the results of the PATIENT APT Registry which showed sustained efficacy of INTREPIDE at 24 months, which compare very favourably with results of drug eluting stent clinical trials presented at Late Breaking Trial sessions at PCR. These results also highlight the efficacy of INTREPIDE in reducing the incidence of complications in diabetic patients, detailing how the modes of action of Trapidil may make it particularly effective in this challenging patient group. There have been no incidences of late stent thrombosis in the PATIENT APT registry at 24 months. Justification for the concern over this phenomenon was indicated by the very high incidence of 3.32% late stent thrombosis recorded in the e-SELECT registry involving the CYPHER stent. The meeting finished with an overview of the OISTER clinical trial given by Dr Giuseppe Sangiorgi, Centro Cuore Columbus, Milan, Italy, the principal investigator of the trial. OISTER will compare the amount of re-endothelialisation in INTREPIDE with the TAXUS stent at 90 days using Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). This presentation created great interest amongst the attendees and generated a lively discussion about the potential patient benefits that INTREPIDE may offer.   The PCR Meeting was effectively used to increase the profile of ClearStream Technologies, to showcase the company’s product range, and to generate sales leads. Great interest was shown in the INTREPIDE stent, with updated clinical results indicating the significant potential for this product to improve patient outcomes. 23 March 2009 - Bantam  used successfully in live case in Genoa.  For more information click here. 15 March 2009  - ClearStream are delighted to announce the appointment of Jonathan Akehurst as Commercial Manager.  Reporting directly to the CEO, Jonathan will take a leading role in ClearStream's business development and will take overall responsibility for the development of both ClearStream brand and OEM sales.  The ClearStream brand territory managers and the newly appointed OEM sales manager (soon to be announced) will report to Jonathan.  Jonathan has previously worked on a number of assignments with ClearStream and has broad experience in delivering strategic sales growth in a wide range of healthcare markets. This appointment marks another significant step forward in the development of the company.  Over the coming months Jonathan will be working hand in hand with Karl Hoffman our Marketing Manger with a specific focus on driving further rapid growth in both our Coronary and Peripheral divisions. 5 March 2009  -  ClearStream is pleased to announce that is has received FDA approval for its ground-breaking ReeKross family of catheters.  6 January 2009 - First images of the new ClearPAC   -  First clinical images of the soon to be released ClearPAC catheter, a 5x200mm balloon used in the SFA. The ClearPAC ; is a 0.035" PTA catheter with new features to improve trackability and pushability and with ClearStream's proven QuadFlex balloon. With thanks to Dr. Alfredo Gastaldi and Dr. Giovanni Casali in Hospital Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia. December 2008  -   ClearStream today announced that it has completed the CE Marking of its lates state-of-the-art PTA catheter for treating the most difficult distal lesions in thelower limb vasculature. This new product, the "Bantam ", is a new 0.014" over the wire platform specifically designed to treat the narrow and tortuous plantar and pedal arteries inthe foot. These are amongst the most challenging vessels to treat, given their size, shape and location. It is believed that the Bantam is the most advanced catheter design on the market specifically for this purpose. November 2008  -  ClearStream is pleased to anound that this month's issue of the EUROINTERVENTION (the journal of PCR) includes an article on "INTREPIDE - Trapidil Eluting Stent" which was authored by Dr. Mazhar Khan, Principal Investigator of PATIENT APT, Fiona NiMhullain and Margaret Nolan, both of ClearStream. (see page 70 in list of contents: http://www.europcronline.com/email/081117-eij/toc.pdf.) November 6th 2008 BSIR  - A study presented at the BSIR conference in Brighton 4th - 6th November 2008 by susan Drinkwater and conducted by Drinkwater, Platts and Hamilton of the Royal Free Hospital in London had the conclusion: "The ReeKross device has a significantly higher success rate for infra-genicular lesions compared with other PTA catheters." August 20th 2008 - ClearStream are plesaed to announce a further extensionto their already successful Bantam PTA catheter range. The new catheters feature a shaft length of 180cm. For more information click Bantam. July 26th 2008  - Registry indicates the ReeKross potentially expands the range of treatable lesions: A multi-centre registry conduced in Holland and Ireland was published in CardioVascular & Interventional Radiology, July 2008 by Spaargaren, Lee, Reekers, Overhagen, Kool and Nooeveen. The conclusion includes: "This registry indicates that the ReeKross catheter is an applicable instrument in potentially difficult procedures in the treatment of occluded or stenotic arterial disease, with alow ristk of technical failures and an acceptable angiographic and immediate procedure outcome in the majority of patients." and continutes: "The outcome of this registry indicates that this catheter can be a valuable addition to the arsenal of devices for percutaneous treatment of difficult heavily calcified infrainguinal desease, possibly expanding the range of treatable lesions." For access to the publication click http://www.springerlink.com/content/k322k456273m8662/. ClearStream Technologies Group, plc, announces CE Mark Certification for its Nimbus Pico 1.25mm and 1.5mm PTCA catheters, its Nimbus Pico 4.5mm catheters and for its new EzeCTO-RX rapid exchange coronary CTO catheter. For more information click Nimbus® Pico. ICLARITY Europe Registry underway  Dr. Peter Crean, Interventional Cardiologist of St. James Hospital Dublin holding an Intrepdide stent before the first European procedure was carried out:       Interview with cardiology team and patient. Click here  A link to some procedure pictures here  For more information click Intrepide The first European patient to be implanted with the Intrepide DES, RTE Six One News: Fergal Bowers, Health Correspondent, reports on the first operation using an Irish-made drug-coated stent for treatment of coronary artery disease 67-year-old Edward Rogers, from Clondalkin in Dublin EuroPCR interview wth Andrew Jones (CEO) An interview with Andy Jones (CEO) can be accessed through http://www.europcronline.com/tv_news/2008/ Click on May 14th, part 3.