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It was only a few months ago that Paul Enright, 65, learned his carotid artery was nearly 100 percent blocked, and in need of surgery to prevent the serious risk of stroke.

"It was mind boggling to think that you're going to have a procedure, because they only operations I've had was as a child," he said. "My tonsils were taken out, and I had a biopsy done on my neck for cancer, as well as colonoscopies, too."

Because Enright is a Hodgkins lymphoma survivor, doctors opted to treat the blockage with a stent, a tube placed in the body to unclog the artery.

But the procedure that's meant to prevent stroke can pose a major risk at the same time. With stenting, cholesterol plaque can still chip off and debris can travel upstream causing a stroke.

Doctors say new technology used with stenting called Fibernet is helping to prevent that and improve outcomes by catching that debris.

NYU Langone Medical Center is the first hospital in the area to start using the new device.

"Carotid stenting early on was done without filters, without neuroprotection, as we call it," explained Dr. Thomas Maldonado of NYU Langone Medical Center. "And the incidents of strokes in those early experiences were much higher. The introduction of neuroprotection, such as the Fiberne, has dropped that stroke risk dramatically."

In trials, stroke was prevented in more than 90 percent of cases where debris was captured using the device. Three-dimensional fibers are able to entrap and catch tiny particles that may break off during a procedure.

"There are numerous neuroprotection devices," the doctor said. "Fibernet happens to be the latest in the lineage of technology, and has certain advantages perhaps in that the pore size is smaller than some of the others, and so it captures even smaller debris."

Patients are awake for the procedure and Enright says the healing was relatively quick. More than a month after the procedure an ultrasound shows blood is flowing well through Enright's stent.

He says that's a strong indicator about how much better he's feeling and that things are getting back to normal.

"I'm leading a very active retired life and this is the best time of the year to do it," said Enright.