PercuSurge

PercuSurge was a pioneering medical device company focused on the development of embolic protection systems for interventional cardiology. The company's primary innovation was the GuardWire System, a distal protection device designed to capture debris during angioplasty and stenting procedures. This technology was particularly effective in treating saphenous vein grafts and carotid arteries, where the risk of distal embolization is high. By preventing debris from traveling downstream, the system helped reduce complications such as myocardial infarction and the "no-reflow" phenomenon. PercuSurge's GuardWire became the first distal protection device to receive FDA clearance for use in saphenous vein graft interventions. In December 2000, Medtronic announced the acquisition of PercuSurge for approximately $225 million to enhance its position in the vascular therapy market.