iHub Stent-Graft for Iliac Artery Aneurysms: Safety, Performance, and Effectiveness Study

This study investigates the first-in-human use of the iHub Stent-Graft System, a vascular endoprosthesis developed to treat aneurysms in the iliac arteries with an emphasis on preserving internal iliac artery (IIA) perfusion and minimizing complications associated with pelvic ischemia. The iHub device represents an innovation in the treatment of complex aortoiliac aneurysms by offering a novel anatomical configuration and deployment strategy.

Scientific Background and Rationale

Iliac artery aneurysms (IAA), particularly those involving the common iliac artery (CIA) and extending to the internal iliac artery, pose a treatment challenge due to the anatomical and hemodynamic complexity of the pelvic vasculature. The interruption of flow to the IIA has been associated with postoperative complications such as buttock claudication, sexual dysfunction, and colonic ischemia. Therefore, preserving the IIA during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a priority in complex iliac anatomy.

The iHub device is designed to offer a modular and flexible approach to treating iliac aneurysms, incorporating branch preservation without requiring total exclusion of the internal iliac circulation. The study addresses a significant unmet clinical need, especially in patients who are not good candidates for conventional bifurcated aortic endografts or hybrid procedures.

Device Description

The iHub stent-graft is a low-profile device delivered via catheter for the treatment of Iliac Artery Aneurysm (IAA). The device is designed to exclude common iliac artery aneurysms while simultaneously preserving internal iliac artery perfusion.

The stent-graft consists of a single tubular component made of a self-expanding nitinol stent covered with an ePTFE film. Internally, this polymeric tube divides into two smaller tubes, measuring 9 ± 1 mm and 7 ± 1 mm in diameter, each 20 mm in length. This configuration allows the stent-graft to connect, via bridging stent-grafts, to both the internal and external iliac arteries.

For implantation, the stent-graft is compressed within a delivery system (introducer catheter), which transports the device to the target site. Once released, the stent-graft expands to its nominal diameter. The stent-grafts are manufactured in a size suitable for implantation into a main endograft branch with diameters ranging from 14 mm to 16 mm.

The stent-graft is preloaded into an introducer system, and once it reaches the intended implantation site, the device is released. During positioning, a pull-back maneuver is used to deploy the stent-graft under fluoroscopic guidance. Immediately afterward, the system's inner mandrel is removed, and the catheter then functions as an introducer sheath through which the external iliac bridging stent-graft is delivered.

The delivery system is preassembled and single-use, sterilized via ethylene oxide (EO) and validated according to ISO 11135, with sterile barrier packaging conforming to ISO 11607-1 and 11607-2.

Objectives and Expected Outcomes

To evaluate the performance of the iHub stent-graft in patients with iliac artery aneurysms. The specific objectives are:

1. To assess the safety of the iHub iliac stent-graft at 30, 90, 180, and 360 days post-implantation.

II. To evaluate the accuracy of the iHub stent-graft deployment at the intended anatomical location.

III. To assess the effectiveness of the iHub stent-graft in excluding the iliac artery aneurysm.

Primary objective is the absence of serious adverse events related to the device within 30 days following the endovascular procedure.

The secundary objective is to evaluate the performance of the iHub Stent-Graft in patients with Iliac Artery Aneurysms. Performance is defined as:

1. Successful implantation of the stent-graft device in one or both iliac branches and exclusion of the common iliac artery aneurysm.
2. Absence of Type I, III, and IV endoleaks during the 30-day follow-up period.
3. Incidence of serious adverse events at 90, 180, and 360 days post-implantation.

Study Design and Monitoring

This is a prospective, multicenter, first-in-human, interventional clinical investigation. Patients will undergo treatment at a qualified vascular surgery center under the oversight of a designated principal investigator (PI). The surgical team will follow a defined implant protocol, including preoperative imaging, device sizing, and procedural technique as outlined in the investigator brochure.

Monitoring of safety parameters will occur at regular intervals post-implantation through structured follow-up visits. Each follow-up includes standardized physical exams, imaging studies (ultrasound, RX and CT angiography), and laboratory testing to assess renal function.

All clinical events, including adverse events and serious adverse events (SAEs), will be tracked and categorized using standard definitions provided by ISO 14155 and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines. Data management, event adjudication, and protocol compliance monitoring will be performed by the sponsor and independent clinical monitors.

Risk Assessment and Patient Safety

The potential risks of this study include access failures, device migration, endoleaks, device fracture or infection, and cardiac, pulmonary, renal, neurological, genitourinary, sexual, thrombotic, inflammatory, anesthetic-related complications, and death. To mitigate these risks, robust qualification tests were performed on the device, quality control measures were applied during manufacturing, and experienced investigators in endovascular procedures were selected. All study personnel will receive detailed training on the protocol, device usage, and participant follow-up. A follow-up schedule, well-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria, and continuous monitoring of data and adverse events will be implemented. Safety and performance outcomes will be shared with the investigative centers throughout the study.

Ethical Considerations

The protocol was developed in compliance with ISO 14155:2020 for clinical investigation of medical devices for human subjects and follows Brazilian regulations including RDC 751/2022 , CNS 466/12 and RDC 837/2023. Ethical approval will be obtained from a local Research Ethics Committee (Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa - CEP), and all patients will sign informed consent prior to enrollment.

The consent process emphasizes voluntariness, right to withdraw at any time, and clarification of potential risks, benefits, and alternative treatments. The study complies with the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki.

Data Analysis and Reporting

Quantitative analysis will be performed on both safety and performance endpoints. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize patient demographics, procedural metrics, and adverse event frequencies. Device performance will be assessed through imaging-based outcomes, including patency of the branch, endoleak classification, and aneurysm exclusion.

Any need for secondary intervention, as well as clinical symptoms such as claudication or pelvic ischemia, will be recorded. Data will be analyzed at key time points: baseline, hospital discharge, and at 90, 180, and 360 days post-procedure.

Significance and Future Directions

This study is intended to provide foundational data for future regulatory submissions. It will help determine the real-world utility and safety profile of the iHub system in the treatment of iliac aneurysms requiring internal iliac artery preservation.

If successful, the iHub may represent a valuable tool in the endovascular armamentarium, providing a lower-profile, flexible option for patients with complex iliac anatomy.