A new filter device designed to capture the emboli and aortic plaque caused by cross-clamping of the aorta during a cardiopulmonary bypass procedure began commercial launch in the U.S. last month, and could potentially benefit hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide. Edwards Lifesciences (Irvine, California) said it has begun U.S. launch of the Embol-X intra-aortic embolic management system.