Concentric Medical Enrolls First Five Patients in Landmark Ischemic Stroke Registry

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Concentric Medical announces the enrollment of the first five patients in the Merci Registry. The Merci registry is a broad-based prospective study of the use of Concentric Medical's family of Merci Retrievers to restore blood flow in patients who have suffered an ischemic stroke by removing blood clots. Concentric Medical plans to seek enrollment of at least 1,000 patients at up to fifty centers world-wide in this registry of stroke intervention cases.

The first patients were enrolled and treated at the Saint Luke's Brain and Stroke Institute at St. Luke's Medical Center in Kansas City, MO. Marilyn Rymer, MD, neurologist and head of the Brain and Stroke Institute, is a principal investigator in the study. "We are excited to be enrolling in the Merci Registry, and believe that the results from such a broad-based effort will further confirm the value and efficacy of mechanical embolectomy with the Merci Retrievers in patients suffering from ischemic stroke," said Dr. Rymer.

In addition to capturing a variety of procedural and clinical data from patients treated with the full range of Merci Retrievers and any adjunctive therapies, Concentric will also collect imaging data from centers willing to provide such data and will work with clinicians to better understand the correlation between advanced pre-procedure imaging and clinical outcomes.

"The implementation of the Merci Registry is further indication of Concentric's continuing commitment to the field of stroke intervention, whether through the development of a broader range of effective products, or the support of studies such as the Merci Registry," said Gary Curtis, CEO of Concentric Medical.

About Concentric Medical

Concentric Medical is located in Mountain View, California, and was founded in August 1999. The company manufacturers and markets the Merci Retrieval Systems, which are available in over 225 centers in North America and in leading stroke centers around the world. Concentric Medical estimates that over 5,000 patients have been treated with its devices. More information about Concentric Medical and its products can be found at http://www.concentric-medical.com. Concentric, Merci and MERCI are trademarks/registered trademarks of Concentric Medical.

Media Contact: Andrew Gordon

650-810-1701 ofc 925-872-5542 cell

agordon@concentric-medical.com

CONTACT: Andrew Gordon, +1-650-810-1701, cell, +1-925-872-5542,agordon@concentric-medical.com

Web site: http://www.concentric-medical.com/