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Vascular Surgeon Chuter Wins Medal for Innovation

July 25, 2008
Contact: News Office (415) 476-2557

Dr. Timothy A.M. Chuter, a vascular surgeon at the UCSF Heart & Vascular Center and director of the Endovascular Surgery Program at UCSF, was awarded the Society for Vascular Surgery Medal for Innovation in Vascular Surgery.

Chuter has been a leading developer of the technology used in endovascular treatment for vascular disease for more than 20 years. The society's medal recognizes individuals whose contributions have had a transforming impact on the practice or science of vascular surgery.

Chuter received the medal at the 62nd annual meeting of the Society for Vascular Surgery on June 6. He has developed stents, stent grafts, delivery systems, embolization coils, catheters, sheaths and an implantable port for the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. He holds 23 patents related to endovascular aortic stent graft devices, stents, attachment systems, delivery systems and component junctions.

While the scope of his contributions alone would merit consideration for this recognition, the innovation that carries the most significance in the field of vascular surgery was his development of the first bifurcated endovascular stent graft. The availability of a bifurcated device expanded the application of the stent graft technique to the majority of aortic aneurysms and paved the way for further innovations designed to accommodate aneurysms involving major arterial branch points.

The bifurcated device also expanded the applicability of endoluminal aortic aneurysm repair. Vascular surgeons began to learn endovascular techniques and developed the endovascular skills that positioned them to adopt and apply other emerging endoluminal therapies for occlusive arterial disease, vascular trauma and venous disease in all vascular beds.

The device led vascular surgeons to incorporate endoluminal techniques into routine clinical practice, as well as into all training programs.

The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) is a nonprofit association that seeks to advance excellence and innovation in vascular health through education, advocacy, research and public awareness. SVS is the national advocate for 2,600 vascular surgeons dedicated to the prevention and cure of vascular disease.

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