New stent discovery

As you read this story, our researchers are in the advanced stages of developing a more effective stent to treat coronary heart disease. In a Heartbeat recently caught up with a member of the Institute’s Translational Research and Bioengineering Group to discuss this exciting development:

Q: In summary, what’s this project about?

A: Through a combination of diverse contributions from medicine, biochemistry and physics, we’re developing a stent coating that is compatible with blood. The stent is being developed by our group at the HRI led by Dr Martin Ng in conjunction with research teams at the University of Sydney.

Q: Why are traditional metallic implants incompatible with blood?

A: Metal alloys such as stainless steel contain many different elements resulting in a surface that is chemically variable and which can cause blood clots. 

Q: What will this mean to patients given the new stents?

A: The new stent is compatible with the blood so patients will require less or ideally no anti-clotting medication, yet still have a greatly reduced risk of heart attack.

Q: Will this ‘new generation’ stent become the norm in heart surgery?

A: Further work and research is still required before they become commercial, but the impending development of a surface that is resistant to forming blood clots is the ultimate in vascular medical devices.  Once successful, this technology could be incorporated into various implants (e.g. heart valves) and have a significant impact in the field of cardiovascular medicine.

Q: Has this finding received international attention as yet?

A: Yes… this work has already been presented at an international conference held at the University of New England in the U.S.A.