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SAES Memry
SAES Memry’s laser-form stents, often
used for cardiac and PAD angioplasty, can
accommodate complex geometries.
chining ever-finer stents, a key feature
considering the growing emphasis on
minimally invasive surgical procedures.
Polymer stents
The biggest advantage of the ablation
laser technology may be its ability to machine
what many observers are certain is
the future of stent industry: biodegradable
polymer stents. With melting points
ranging between 175° C and 200° C, the
polymer is too fragile to be cut with heatbased
lasers. Unlike metal stents, which
can cause blood clots, the bioabsorbable
devices have thus far proven to be without
hazards. A study published in the
March 2009 issue of the medical journal
The Lancet detailed the results of a 2-year
clinical trial of a bioabsorbable DES made
by Abbott Laboratories.
Among the findings:
■ Zero-percent rate of stent thrombosis
(blood-clot formation) for all patients
for 2 years;
■ no occurrence of major adverse
cardiac events between 6 months and
2 years;
■ bioabsorption of the stent 2 years
after implantation;
■ restoration of vasomation (ability
of the blood vessel to contract and expand);
and
■ reduced plaque in treated arteries.
Recent advances in stent production
have been more evolutionary than revolutionary,
according to Frost & Sullivan’s
Rajan. “I think the next leap in technology
will probably be in 6 years or so, if
biodegradable stents [pending FDA approval]
come to the market. There are
companies developing them now; they
essentially just dissolve, so there’s no
long-term risk.” µ
About the author:
Daniel McCann
is senior editor of
MICROmanufacuring.
Telephone: (847) 714-
0177. E-mail: dmccann@
jwr.com.
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