Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of the STARFlex® Septal Closure System Versus Best Medical Therapy in Patients With a Stroke and/or Transient Ischemic Attack Due to Presumed Paradoxical Embolism Through a Patent Foramen Ovale
Brief Summary: The primary objective of the study is to determine whether the STARFlex® septal closure system will safely and effectively prevent a recurrent embolic stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) and mortality in patients with a PFO and to demonstrate superiority of the STARFlex® device compared to best medical therapy.


Options:
A: Major Inclusion Criteria:

* Age 18-60 years inclusive.
* Positive contrast valsalva bubble study by trans-esophageal echocardiogram (TEE) for patent foramen ovale (PFO), with or without atrial septal aneurysm.
* Stroke or clinically definite TIA (contact study coordinator).
* Be able to comply with follow up over two years.
* Be competent to, or have a legal guardian competent to, provide informed consent following full disclosure of risks and benefits of both treatment arms by a study investigator.
* Venous access capable of accepting a 10F minimum vascular sheath.
* Have, or be willing to, discontinue hormonal based contraceptive use prior to enrollment and for the term of the study.
* Has cardiac anatomy based on enrollment echocardiogram that will allow for placement of the implant if randomized to the implant arm.
* Note: Additional inclusion criteria may apply. Contact study coordinator or principal investigator for details.

Post-randomization - device patients only

* The size of the PFO (measured by indentation with a soft balloon) must be amenable to selection of a STARFlex device.

Major Exclusion Criteria:

* Carotid artery stenosis \> 50%.
* Intracranial stenosis \> 50% appropriate to symptoms.
* Complex aortic arch atheroma with high risk features for embolism
* Aortic arch, carotid or vertebral artery dissection.
* Mitral or aortic valve stenosis, vegetation, or calcification \> 5 mm mitral annular calcification (MAC) thickness.
* Active pregnancy.
* Active infections (contact study coordinator).
* Active infective endocarditis or bacteremia.
* Prosthetic heart valves in any location.
* Anterior MI within 3 months of neurological event.
* Chronic atrial fibrillation
* Thrombus in, or occluded, venous access route.
* Contraindication to heparin, aspirin, clopidogrel, or warfarin, or a known medical condition that requires continuous warfarin.
* Patient enrolled in another investigation study where clinical endpoint interference may occur.
* Permanent pacemaker or inferior vena cava (IVC) filter.
* Serum creatinine \> 2.0 mg/dL
* Patients with known vasculitis or neurologic disorder.
* Baseline modified Rankin score of 3 or more.
* Hypercoagulopathies requiring long-term warfarin.
* Note: Additional exclusion criteria may apply.
B: INCLUSION:

Small subcortical ischemic stroke or subcortical TIA.

Inclusion criteria are based on TOAST criteria supplemented by required MRI data. All of the following criteria must be met:

* One of the lacunar stroke clinical syndromes (adapted from Fisher) lasting \> 24 hrs within the past 6 months
* Absence of signs or symptoms of cortical dysfunction such as aphasia, apraxia, agnosia, agraphia, homonymous visual field defect, etc.
* No ipsilateral cervical carotid stenosis (≥50%) by a reliable imaging modality done in an approved laboratory since the qualifying small subcortical stroke (S3), if hemispheric.
* No major-risk cardioembolic sources requiring anticoagulation or other specific therapy. Minor-risk cardioembolic sources will be permitted if anticoagulation is not prescribed by the patient's primary care physician.
* Subcortical TIA with corresponding lesion on DWI.
* MRI evidence of S3: a. Presence of an S3 (1.5 and 2 cm in diameter corresponding to the qualifying event on DWI; when TIA, ADC image must confirm lesion or T2/FLAIR (hyperintense lesions) (required for all brainstem events) OR multiple S3s on FLAIR/TI(\<1.5 cm in diameter) (hypointense lesions) b. Absence of cortical stroke and large subcortical stroke (recent or remote).

EXCLUSION:

To be eligible for entry into the study, the patient must not meet any of the criteria listed below:

* Disabling stroke (Modified Rankin Scale less than or equal to 4)
* Previous intracranial hemorrhage (excluding traumatic) or hemorrhagic stroke
* Age under 30 years
* High risk of bleeding (e.g. recurrent GI or GU bleeding, active peptic ulcer disease, etc)
* Anticipated requirement for long-term use of anticoagulants (e.g. recurrent DVT) or other antiplatelets
* Prior cortical stroke (diagnosed either clinically or by neuroimaging), or prior cortical or retinal TIA
* Prior ipsilateral carotid endarterectomy
* Impaired renal function: GFR \<40
* Intolerance or contraindications to aspirin or clopidogrel (including thrombocytopenia, prolonged INR)
* A score \< 24 (adjusted for age and education) on the Folstein Mini Mental Status Examination
* Medical contraindication to MRI
* Pregnancy or women of child-bearing potential who are not following an effective method of contraception
* Geographic or social factors making study participation impractical
* Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent
* Unlikely to be compliant with therapy/unwilling to return for frequent clinic visits
* Patients concurrently participating in another study with an investigational drug or device
* Other likely specific cause of stroke (e.g. dissection, vasculitis, prothrombotic diathesis, drug abuse)
C: Inclusion criteria:

* Adult subjects (male or female≥40 years)
* Acute non-disabling ischemic stroke (NIHSS≤3 at the time of randomization) that can be treated with study drug within 24 hours of symptoms onset. Symptom onset is defined by the "last see normal" principle
* TIA (Neurological deficit attributed to focal brain ischemia, with resolution of the deficit within 24 hours of symptom onset), that can be treated with study drug within 24 hours of symptoms onset and with moderate-to-high risk of stroke recurrence (ABCD2 score≥4 at the time of randomization).Symptom onset is defined by the "last see normal" principle
* Informed consent signed

Exclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of hemorrhage or other pathology, such as vascular malformation, tumor, abscess or other major non-ischemic brain disease (e.g., multiple sclerosis) on baseline head CT or MRI
* Isolated or pure sensory symptoms (e.g., numbness), isolated visual changes, or isolated dizziness/vertigo without evidence of acute infarction on baseline head CT or MRI
* Modified Rankin Scale Score\>2 at randomization (pre-morbid historical assessment)
* NIH Stroke Score≥4 at randomization
* Clear indication for anticoagulation(presumed cardiac source of embolus, e.g., atrial fibrillation, prosthetic cardiac valves known or suspected endocarditis)
* Contraindication to clopidogrel or ASA
* Known allergy
* Severe renal or hepatic insufficiency
* Severe cardiac failure, asthma
* Hemostatic disorder or systemic bleeding
* History of hemostatic disorder or systemic bleeding
* History of thrombocytopenia or neutropenia
* History of drug-induced hematologic or hepatic abnormalities
* Low white blood cell (\<2 x109/l) or platelet count (\<100 x109/l)
* Use of thrombolysis within 24 hours prior to randomization
* History of intracranial hemorrhage
* Anticipated requirement for long-term non-study antiplatelet drugs, or NSAIDs affecting platelet function
* Current treatment (last dose given within 10 days before randomization) with heparin therapy or oral anti coagulation
* Gastrointestinal bleed or major surgery within 3 months
* Planned or likely revascularization (any angioplasty or vascular surgery) within the next 3 months (if clinically indicated, vascular imaging should be performed prior to randomization whenever possible)
* Scheduled for surgery or interventional treatment requiring study drug cessation
* Qualifying TIA or minor stroke induced by angiography or surgery
* Severe non-cardiovascular comorbidity with life expectancy \< 3 months
* Women of childbearing age not practicing reliable contraception who do not have a documented negative pregnancy test
* Currently receiving an investigational drug or device
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Men or women equal or elder 40 years of age
* Either acute ischaemic stroke or high-risk TIA as defined here and randomisation occurring within 24 hours after onset of symptoms

Key Exclusion Criteria:

* Planned use of antithrombotic therapy in addition to study medication including antiplatelets (eg, open label ASA, GPIIb/IIIa inhibitors, clopidogrel, ticlopidine, prasugrel, dipyridamole, ozagrel, cilostazol) and anticoagulants (eg, warfarin, oral thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors, bivalirudin, hirudin, argatroban, unfractionated and low molecular weight heparins). - Any history of atrial fibrillation, ventricular aneurysm or suspicion of cardioembolic pathology for TIA or stroke. - Planned carotid, cerebrovascular, or coronary revascularisation that requires halting study medication within 7 days of randomisation. - Receipt of any intravenous or intra-arterial thrombolysis or mechanical thrombectomy within 24 hours prior to randomisation - History of previous symptomatic non-traumatic intracerebral bleed at any time (asymptomatic microbleeds do not qualify), gastrointestinal (GI) bleed within the past 6 months, or major surgery within 30 days.

Answer: A