A breakthrough technology with the potential to save the lives of thousands of stroke patients every year was unveiled for the first time in Hong Kong.

The new technology, a self-expandable stent for intracranial blood vessels, is the first of its kind in the world, which would be capable of preventing stroke, said the adjunct associate professor of the department of Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging of Chinese University of Hong Kong Simon Yu at the inauguration ceremony of the Vascular and Interventional Radiology Foundation Wednesday.

"Clinical trials to study the safety of its use in the human brain have already been conducted at 11 medical centers in Europe and Asia, including the Prince of Wales Hospital and Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong," said Yu, who was also one of the principal investigators in the clinical trials.

Yu said experiencing in prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease indicated that stenting intracranial stenosis could be a specific and effective way to prevent ischaemic stroke.

"The clinical trials so far demonstrated that the stent can widen the stenosis of blood vessels. The procedure was successfully performed in every patient, and procedure-related complication occurred in only one patient.

"These preliminary results are promising, and very important for the further development of stroke-prevention technology in this direction," explained Yu.

This stroke-prevention technology is one area on which the foundation intends to focus. The foundation is a non-profit making organization with the aims of conducting training, education, research and international exchanges that advance the use of vascular and interventional radiology in Hong Kong.

Professor of the Mathematics Department of Harvard University Shing-Tung Yau and Dean of Science of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Shiu-Yuen Cheng were present to officiate at the ceremony.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2004)