Perfuze’s Millipede88 Studied for Acute Ischemic Stroke in MARRS Trial

July 22, 2025—Perfuze, an Ireland-based developer of catheters for interventional stroke care, recently announced preliminary results from the United States pivotal trial of the Millipede 088 superbore aspiration catheter (Millipede88). The findings were presented at SNIS 2025, the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery’s annual meeting.

According to the company, MARRS is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the Millipede88 system for revascularization in acute ischemic stroke.

The study, which includes patients with occlusions in the internal carotid, M1, M2 and basilar, or vertebral arteries, is being conducted across a network of leading stroke centers in the United States and Europe. The MARRS trial enrolled 180 evaluable patients. First pass direct aspiration was performed with the Millipede88 in 101 of these patients, stated the company.

As summarized in Perfuze’s press release, the preliminary analysis showed a high rate of first pass effect (FPE), defined as complete or near-complete revascularization (modified thrombolysis in cerebrovascular infarction 2c) after a single device pass.

The company reported the following findings for patients treated with Millipede88:

• 61% FPE rate across all target vessels in the per protocol (PP) population
• 77% FPE rate for M1 artery occlusions in the PP population
• 99% delivery success of the device
• Median number of passes was one
• 1.7% symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage rate in the preliminary safety analysis
• 0% perforation rate
• 1.1% intracranial dissection rate

The company noted that the MARRS trial is being conducted under an FDA investigational device exemption. Enrollment was completed ahead of schedule, which Perfuze announced in April 2025.

The Principal Investigator of the MARRS study is Raul G. Nogueira, MD, Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“The MARRS data are truly exceptional,” commented Dr. Nogueira in Perfuze’s press release. “Achieving 77% FPE for M1 occlusions in a pivotal study is a major advance for stroke care.”

Dr. Nogueira continued, “The ability to reliably achieve rapid, complete reperfusion with a single aspiration pass is exactly what we need to improve efficacy. This technology is a powerful tool that simplifies thrombectomy and delivers outstanding performance.”