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The amazing functions of bioabsorbable stents: How to restore heart health?
As cardiovascular disease becomes a major threat to global health, innovation and progress in medical technology are particularly important. Among these innovative technologies, the emergence of bioabsorbable stents represents a major revolution in the history of cardiac stents. Not only do these stents help to unblock blocked heart arteries, they also disintegrate themselves after completing their task, bringing immeasurable benefits to the body.
Traditional metal stents usually remain in the body permanently and may require further surgery to remove if something unfortunately goes wrong.
Bioabsorbable stents, also known as biodegradable stents, are a new type of medical device mainly made of materials that can be absorbed by the body. Its main function is to open blocked blood vessels and support the arteries during the body's self-healing process. However, unlike metal stents, these stents are gradually absorbed by the body after completing their supporting function without the need for any subsequent surgery.
Background
Traditional metal drug-eluting stents also have their shortcomings, such as possibly causing late thrombosis, limiting the natural remodeling of blood vessels, and disrupting imaging examinations. In response to these problems, many companies have begun to seek the development of bioabsorbable scaffolds. While supporting blood flow, these stents are able to self-degrade after a critical healing period, restoring normal blood vessel function.
Research shows that the most critical period for blood vessel healing is approximately between three and nine months, and most healing work can be completed within this range.
Basic materials
The materials of bioabsorbable stents mainly include metals and polymers. Early stents using polymers have attracted widespread attention, but as safety concerns intensify, researchers are turning their focus to aluminum alloy stents.
Metal base
Candidate materials for metal stents include magnesium, iron, zinc and their alloys. Magnesium-based stents approved in many countries have shown good clinical results, and most are fully resorbed within one year. However, the rate of magnesium degradation needs further control to ensure it provides the necessary support during the critical healing period.
Polymer base
One of the representatives of polymer-based stents is the "Absorb" stent produced by Abbott. This stent has a variety of design features. For example, the base material is polylactic acid, which can be gradually decomposed in the body into lactic acid that can be used by the body.
Although polymer-based stents showed promising promising results early on, their use gradually declined as several clinical problems were reported.
Clinical research
Relevant clinical studies have shown that bioresorbable stents provide efficacy and safety comparable to traditional drug-eluting stents. For example, the magnesium-based Magmaris stent was reported to have low target lesion failure and stent thrombosis rates, showing similarity to popular drug-eluting stents on the market. It is worth noting that the "Absorb" stent will begin to degrade within six to twelve months after implantation and completely disappear after two to three years, allowing the blood vessel to return to a healthy state.
Historical review
In the United States, the first fully absorbable stent was approved by the FDA in 2016, ushering in a new era of heart disease treatment.
With the rapid development of medical technology, bioabsorbable stents have not only aroused widespread discussion in the academic and clinical circles, but also attracted the attention of many patients. As research continues to deepen, will this technology become the mainstream in the treatment of heart disease in the future?
