Development and Future of Intravascular Stents

摘要

Intravascular stents are devices that can provide support for a vessel at the point os stenosis. These metallic mesh tubes are inserted in a collapsed state across the stenosis and then expanded to open the vessel and permit the normal flow of bolld. Stents were developed in an attempt to reduce restenosis following conventional balloom angioplasty. Commonly used stents include the Palmaz-Schatz Stent, the Giantyurco-Roubin Stent, the Witkor Stent, adn the Schneider Wall Stent. The Plmaz-Shatz and the Gianturco-Roubin are the most popular stensts so far. This presentation focuses on some major aspects of intravascualr stents, including design considerations, commercial stents, outlooks for the future, and the role of shape memory alloys is future stents.