A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of the Rapidlink Device When Used in Patients Undergoing an Open Surgical Procedure to Repair the Aorta

Treatment options for pathologies involving the aortic arch include medical management, open surgical repair with vascular grafts (e.g., Gelweave), and frozen elephant trunk procedures (e.g., Thoraflex Hybrid).

During conventional replacement of the aortic arch, branches from the main graft are anastomosed onto the transected main arch vessels. In some circumstances this can be difficult for the surgeon, particularly in the case of the left subclavian artery which can be deep routed and difficult to access due to patient anatomy. It can also be displaced by aneurysmal disease or be fragile and friable secondary to atherosclerotic change.

An unmet need exists regarding the ability to access the supra-aortic vessels (e.g., left subclavian artery) in a timely manner during open surgical repair and to expedite the anastomosis to the arch while reducing the need to perform additional concomitant procedures (e.g., transposition or bypass of the left subclavian artery).

The Rapidlink device is designed to simplify this process by enabling the surgeon to place a stented graft within the supra-aortic vessels and secure it, with minimal sutures and manipulation, in a timely manner during open surgical repair.

This study will evaluate patients necessitating repair or replacement of the supra-aortic vessels (i.e., left subclavian artery, left common carotid artery, and/or innominate artery) during open surgical repair of aortic disease affecting the thoracic aorta in an elective (Primary Arm) or emergent (Emergent Arm) setting

Up to 120 subjects will be recruited in the primary arm (elective setting).The first 32 subjects will undergo left subclavian artery repair or replacement with the Rapidlink device. After the 32nd subject with only the left subclavian artery repair or replacement with the Rapidlink device has been enrolled, enrollment will proceed to include subjects undergoing any supra-aortic vessel (i.e., left subclavian artery, left common carotid artery, and/or innominate artery) repair or replacement with the Rapidlink device in an elective setting.

For the Emergent Arm, up to 30 subjects will undergo supra-aortic vessel (i.e., left subclavian artery, left common carotid artery, and/or innominate artery) repair or replacement with the Rapidlink device in an emergent setting. Enrollment into the Emergent Arm will begin after the 32ndsubject from the Primary Arm has been enrolled. Investigators are not allowed to enroll into the Emergent Arm until one elective case has been performed.

It is anticipated that up to 150 patients will be recruited over a 12 month period (approximately). Patients will be evaluated at the following timepoints: Pre-procedure, Implant, Discharge/30 days, 3 months, 12 months and 24 months.

Inclusion criteria

• Patient is aged 18 years or over on date of consent
• Written informed consent (from patient or a legally authorized representative) to participate in study, documenting willingness and ability to comply with all study procedures and study visits (unless an exemption for emergency cases has been IRB / EC approved)
• Patient's need for open surgical repair of the thoracic aorta using a Gelweave graft or a Thoraflex Hybrid device (AnteFlo or Plexus) in line with the applicable IFU
• Anticipated need to use Rapidlink for the repair or replacement of the LSA, LCCA and/or IA during the open surgical repair
• Patient has an 8-15 mm inner diameter (target SAV)
• The diameters of the patient's target supra-aortic vessel(s), fall within the ranges specified in the IFU

Exclusion criteria

• Patient does not have a clear landing zone equal to the implantable stent length which is free from stenosis, calcification or thrombus.
• Patient does not have a sealing zone free from tortuosity.
• Patient has significant angulation (>79° with an internal radius of less than 6mm) for the full implantable stent length
• Patient cannot receive anticoagulation / antiplatelet therapy during or after the index procedure as per the protocol
• Patient has uncontrolled hypercoagulation
• Patient has a condition which may compromise or prevent the necessary imaging requirements
• Patient has anatomic variants which would compromise circulation to the first branch off the target artery after placement of the Rapidlink device (unless planned and/or otherwise revascularized)
• Patient is unfit for open surgical repair involving circulatory arrest per the study investigator
• Patient has known sensitivity to polyester, nitinol, tantalum, or materials of bovine origin
• Patient has a ruptured aorta
• Patient has active endocarditis or an active infective disorder of the aorta
• Patient has an active systemic infection that, in the opinion of the investigator, would compromise the outcome of the surgical procedure
• Patient is enrolled in another active study and has received an investigational product (device, pharmaceutical or biologic) within 6 months prior to the date of the implant or has not reached the primary endpoint of the study
• Patient is female and is pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the course of the study. Females of childbearing potential must use acceptable methods of contraception during the course of the study.
• Patient has an uncorrectable bleeding anomaly
• Patient has renal failure (defined as dialysis dependent or serum creatinine ≥2.5mg/dL)
• Patient has known sensitivity to radiopaque contrast agents that cannot be adequately pre-treated
• Patient has a co-morbidity causing expected survival to be less than 1 year
• Patient has any other medical, social or psychological problems that in the opinion of the investigator preclude them from receiving this treatment and the procedures and evaluations pre and post procedure
• Patient has a known chronic aortic dissection involving the intended landing zone of the target supra-aortic vessel(s)