STUDY SHOWS EFFECTIVENESS OF CUSTOMIZED STENTS

A recent study shows that the first stents that can be customized to match the length of patients' lesions are effective in treating complex coronary lesions.

The study, sponsored by the stent's developer Xtent, included 30 patients with arterial lesions. The Heart Center of Siegburg, Germany, was in charge of the study.

Eberhard Grube, the study's principle investigator, argues that "the device was straightforward to use, highly deliverable and allowed for very accurate treatment of complex coronary lesions."

The device allows the cardiologist to first deliver the stent to the artery, then determine what length would best span the target lesion between healthy segments of normal vessel. The cardiologist then detaches the correct stent, and with the integrated balloon expands the stent to open up the artery for treatment.