TriVascular's stent graft gets European approval

Santa Rosa medical technology startup TriVascular Inc. has received European regulatory approval for its first product, a system for repairing abdominal aortic aneurysms, it said Tuesday.

The Ovation Abdominal Stent Graft is designed to fit a broad range of patients, the company said.

"Commercial approval for Ovation is a huge milestone for our organization," said Michael Chobotov, TriVascular's CEO. "As we invest in our international team, what excites me most is the prospect of bringing advanced technology to physicians and patients."

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are bulges in the aorta that can rupture, causing internal bleeding and death.

TriVascular's Ovation abdominal stent graft is a small, tubelike metal-and-fabric device that is snaked through a patient's artery and implanted at the aneurysm site. It reinforces the weak spot and lets blood flow normally.

TriVascular has about 260 employees in Santa Rosa and plans to add 100 workers over the next year as it begins commercial production, marketing and sales, the company said.