May 24, 2011 — Aptus Endosystems Inc., a medical device company developing advanced technology for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), announced CE mark approval for the Aptus EndoStapling System. The innovative helical staple technology enables independent endograft fixation, and is designed to mimic the hand suturing performed during open surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Aortic aneurysms are an enlarged and weakened section of the aorta, which can be lethal if left untreated. Each year, an estimated 100,000 people in Europe and about 200,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with this condition. In EVAR, an alternative to open surgical repair, a metal and fabric endograft is implanted using a catheter-based delivery system to isolate blood flow away from the aneurysm to prevent potential rupture and death.