Medical stents and applications can range to many different areas of the medical industry depending on the need. Stents are mini mesh tubes that have a purpose to hold passages open in the human body. They are widely used to treat many medical diseases and conditions in our world today in a minimally invasive process called stenting. These can range from assisting the lungs in widening airways to opening up coronary arteries that don’t have necessary blood flowing through the body. These procedures and items allow us to handle medical issues in a much less invasive way than once thought possible. There can be different structures, materials, and designs of medical stents and applications that they contribute to.
One category of stents are airway stents. Metal stents exist that are made of just metal or covered with another material like silicone. Stents made of plastics like silicone again are used so their shape can be manipulated and normally are used in more temporary situations. These are used to widen airways that are tight or even to assist treating diseases that can cause stenosis or fistula. One specific type of stent is made specifically to treat aortic aneurysms. The structure is a metal mesh base covered with polyester. This stent is placed in the aorta so blood can flow better and ensure the artery wall will not burst.
Another category of stents involving blood flow are coronary stents. Bare metal stents are mesh stents made of a metal to be used in both carotid and coronary arteries. Drug-eluting stents are placed in arteries with a coated medicine that ensures the artery will not weaken and slim down in the future. For temporary needs, biodegradable stents can be placed in the body to improve blood flow and will dissolve after a couple months when the need is gone. The choice will depend on the severity of the condition and the specific circumstances of the individual needing the stent.
After having a stent placed, medication may be needed to be taken so clots won’t be formed in the area the stent was located at. Another common issue after stent usage is the stent becoming dislodged or being blocked itself. A procedure may be needed to correct the positioning in the body. The usage of stents overall has been critically helpful in supporting treatment of many different conditions and diseases. ProPlate specifically coats stents for different applications such as radiopacity during stent placement and can assist in electroplating processes for selective coatings needed.
