Technology Insight Report: Coronary Stents

Patents in the USA

Cardiology has come a long way over the decades with huge advances having been made in areas such as invasive surgery and interventional cardiology. As a result cardiac patients have had the option of undergoing preventive measures against what could otherwise result in serious complications with angioplasty. In this sphere of invasive surgery, the "Coronary Stent" has been one of the most significant innovations. Little over 20 years on and advances in the coronary stent in terms of material research and coatings still continues. The patent filings related to innovations around the coronary stent can reveal some great insights into this breakthrough in medicine.

Overview

Introduction to the Coronary Stent

A stent is a wire metal mesh tube used to prop open an artery during angioplasty. The stent is collapsed to a small diameter and put over a balloon catheter. It's then moved into the area of the blockage. When the balloon is inflated, the stent expands, locks in place and forms a scaffold. This holds the artery open. The stent stays in the artery permanently, holds it open, improves blood flow to the heart muscle and relieves symptoms (usually chest pain). Within a few weeks of the time the stent was placed, the inside lining of the artery (the endothelium) grows over the metal surface of the stent.

Stents are used depending on certain features of the artery blockage. This includes the size of the artery and where the blockage is. Stenting is a fairly common procedure; in fact, over 70 percent of coronary angioplasty procedures also include stenting.

About the Author:

Robin Luniya

Business Development Associate at Gridlogics Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Click Here to read more...

Related All