The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate the safety of the NexStent for treatment of carotid artery lesions undergoing stenting with adjunctive use of the FilterWire distal embolic protection device. The rates will be compared to an Objective Performance Criterion (OPC) derived from historic data from high-risk patients undergoing surgical intervention with Carotid endarterectomy. Patients included in this study are those at higher risk for complications associated with CEA.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patient is greater than or equal to 18 years of age.
• Anticipated patient life expectancy is of at least one year from the date of the index procedure.
• Lesion is located in the common carotid artery (CCA) and/or the internal carotid artery (ICA) or the carotid bifurcation.
• Target vessel is the only vessel being treated at this intervention and the lesion is less than or equal to 30 mm and can be treated with a single stent.
• Vessel to be treated is between 4.0 mm and 9.0 mm in diameter.
• Patient can be either symptomatic or asymptomatic; Symptomatic: Stenosis must be greater than or equal to 50% as determined by angiogram and the patient has a history of stroke, TIA and/or amaurosis fugax in the hemisphere supplied by the target vessel within 180 days of the procedure.
• Patient can be either symptomatic or asymptomatic; Asymptomatic: Stenosis must be greater than or equal to 60% as determined by angiogram without any neurological symptoms.
• Distal vessel "landing zone" for placement of the FilterWire must be between 3.5 mm and 5.5 mm in diameter with visual angiographic recommendations as described in the IFU.
• Female patients with no childbearing potential or a documented negative pregnancy test (urine or blood) within 10 days of the index procedure.
• Patient (or their legal guardian) understands the nature of the procedure and has provided a signed informed consent using a form that has been reviewed and approved by the Investigational Review Board/Ethics Committee of the respective clinical site prior to the procedure. This will be obtained prior to participation in the study.
• Patient is willing to comply with the protocol requirements and return to the treatment center for all required clinical evaluations
• Patient must fulfill at least one of the following Class I: Unstable angina, LVEF less than 30%, CHF class III or class IV, dialysis dependent renal failure, severe COPD, requirement for staged CABG or valve replacement post carotid index procedure,Previous carotid endarterectomy with significant restenosis, total occlusion of the contralateral carotid artery, Previous radiation treatment to the neck or radical neck dissection, Target lesion is at or above the second vertebral body C2 or below the clavicle, Inability to extend the head due to cervical arthritis or other cervical disorders, Tracheostomy or tracheal stoma,Presence of laryngeal nerve palsy, Bilateral carotid artery stenosis as determined by angiography.
• If a patient does not meet Class I criteria, a patient must meet two of the follwing class II criteria: Patient is greater than or equal to 75 years of age, Myocardial infarction within previous 6 weeks, Requires staged peripheral vascular surgery (i.e. abdominal aortic aneurysm repair) or other major surgery post carotid index procedure, Two or more proximal or major diseased coronary arteries with greater than or equal to 70% stenosis that have not or cannot be revascularized.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previously placed stent in target vessel.
• Total occlusion of target vessel (ICA or CCA).
• Angiographically visible thrombus.
• Carotid string sign (a tiny, long segment of contrast in the true lumen of the artery, aneurysmal pouch formation, and the distal location of the arteriopathy) with poor visualization of the distal vessel.
• Vertebrobasilar insufficiency symptoms only, without clearly identifiable symptoms referable to the targeted carotid artery.
• Vessel anatomy precluding use of stent system or distal protection system.
• Presence of carotid artery dissection.
• Requirement for staged CABG, valve replacement or abdominal aortic aneurysm procedure 30 days before or after the index procedure.
• Evidence of a major disabling stroke within the previous 30 days.
• Patient has an evolving stroke or has experienced a major stroke (NIHSS score greater than or equal to 15) within 3 months.
• History of intracranial hemorrhage within the past 12 months.
• Any condition that precludes proper angiographic assessment or makes percutaneous arterial access unsafe, e.g. morbid obesity, history of chronic hypertension that is not controlled by medical therapy.
• Contraindication to heparin, aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix®), X-ray contrast or ticlopidine (Ticlid®)in cases of intolerance to clopidogrel.
• History of liver failure with elevated prothrombin time.
• History or current indication of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy.
• Hgb <8 gm/dl (unless on dialysis), platelet count < 50,000, WBC >15,000, INR > l.5 (irreversible) or heparin-associated thrombocytopenia.
• Known cardiac sources of emboli not under treatment with anticoagulant therapy.
• Atherosclerotic disease involving adjoining vessels precluding safe placement of the guiding catheter or sheath.
• Planned treatment of non-target lesion within 30 days.
• Other abnormal angiographic findings that indicate the patient is at risk of a stroke due to a problem other that the target lesion, such as: ipsilateral arterial stenosis greater in severity than the target lesion, cerebral aneurysm, or arteriovenous malformation (AVM) of the cerebral vasculature.
• Dementia or confusion.
• The patient is enrolled in another study protocol.
• Patient may not participate in another investigational trial up to 12 months post-index procedure.