Medtronic Inc., a manufacturer of medical devices, has begun a feasibility study titled Zen, for an erectile dysfunction treatment that uses a drug-eluting stent, and which is expected to enroll 50- subjects from approximately 10 U. S. medical centres over the next year.

Dr. Jason Rogers, Director, Interventional Cardiology at UC Davis Medical Centre, Sacramento, who also happens to be the lead investigator of the study says there is a well-established link between erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease. Based on this evidence, the study will investigate stent use in pelvic arteries for determining whether a new treatment approach may provide and enable better response to drug therapies.

The study will that evaluate the safety and improved erectile function of pelvic artery stenting, is intended for men who failed to respond well to PDE5 inhibitors like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.

In short, the gist of the 50-patient study is that when Viagra fails, the alternative, a tiny mesh stent coated with drugs inserted into arteries that supply blood to the penis, propping open arteries near the penis may be the answer for men with erectile dysfunction.

About half of the 25-million American males diagnosed with erectile dysfunction do not respond to drugs like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, while other treatments, such as, vacuum pumps, self- injected medications and implants have their own disadvantages.

Results from the study are expected in 2011.