TransVascular: Re-Tooling After Clinical Failure
Executive Summary
After a major setback in clinical trials of a lead product, many start-ups fail. But TransVascular Inc. has not only survived, it is starting clinical trials with a revised device and developing new applications for its technology. The TransAccess System, the company's core technology, is a coronary revascularization device that ran into problems when its trial was discontinued due to severe adverse coronary events. Transvascular believes it found the problem and has developed a solution--a better guidance system and blocking device. Now, its new PICVA system is scheduled to be used shortly on several patients in Europe.