Medical device maker Medtronic Inc. announced it began to enroll patients in a trial of its self-expanding Complete SE stent, as it tests the stent's ability to widen blood vessels in the thigh.

The Fridley-based medical device company said the trial will enroll 178 patients at 30 locations. The trial is designed to determine if Complete SE can reduce major adverse events like heart attacks or the need for further surgery after 12 months. 

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD), also known as peripheral artery disease (PAD) or peripheral artery occlusive disease (PAOD), includes all diseases caused by the obstruction of large arteries in the arms and legs. The American Heart Association says 8 million to 12 million people in the U.S. have peripheral arterial disease.

The Minneapolis, Minnesota-based company said it also initiated in 2008 two other PAD studies to evaluate the treatment of iliac artery lesions with Medtronic stents. The Complete SE stent is currently being evaluated in an IDE-approved clinical trial in the treatment of iliac artery lesions in subjects with symptomatic and asymptomatic PAD.

Medtronic Inc. is the world's largest medical technology company. The company was founded in 1949 by Earl Bakken and Palmer Hermundslie and is credited with manufacturing the first wearable artificial pacemakers. Listed among Fortune 500 companies, Medtronic is a publicly traded company and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol MDT.