Dr. Edward Yap is the first neurosurgeon in the Carolinas to use a new medical device commercially outside of the clinical trial, the Neuroguard IEP® System, designed to safeguard against stroke and cognitive impairment associated with microembolization.

Microembolization is a condition where small particles travel through the bloodstream and block blood vessels in the brain. Neuroguard, developed by Contego Medical, is a distal protection device used to catch any debris that dislodges during carotid stent placement or angioplasty, medical procedures used to treat blocked blood vessels. “The difference with this digital protection device is that it is a mesh with approximately 40 µm diameter where the standard ones are approximately 100 µm,” said Dr. Yap. “This allows for a significantly higher chance of catching the debris.”

The stent is then deployed after the distal protection device is opened. Once this is done, the balloon that is needed for angioplasty is already a part of the system and can be inflated to perform the procedure without having to exchange new devices. Once this is done, the distal protection device is removed and the entire system comes out as one.

The normal system requires three different devices to be put in separately. The 3-in-1 system reduces catheter exchanges and improves procedural efficiency. “Neuroguard is a carotid stent that incorporates all the devices we typically use into an all-in-one system with their study showing decreased stroke rates,” said Dr. Yap.

Contego Medical developed the device after multiple clinical studies reported that 70%-90% of debris released during stenting was capable of passing through the large pores of traditional distal filters. The system can be used on more than 94% of patient anatomies.

Dr. Edward Yap is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at UNC Health specializing in neuroendovascular and cerebrovascular surgery. After completing his residency at University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Dr. Yap completed a fellowship in neuroendovascular surgery at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He currently treats patients with brain aneurysms, carotid disease and other cerebrovascular diseases, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and NPH. His research interests involve minimally invasive clot evacuation and stroke disorders.

Written by Makenzie Hardy, Marketing Coordinator, Department of Neurosurgery