Biodegradable coronary stent developed

Gabriela Faz/Tec de Monterrey/DICYT Erika García is working on the Coronary Stent Laser Cutting project under the guidance of Dr. Ciro Rodríguez, Director of the Monterrey Campus’ Design and Technology Center for Innovation.

According to data released by the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases are one of the main causes of disability and premature death worldwide.

That prompted the Monterrey Campus PhD candidate in Engineering Sciences, specializing in Mechatronics and Advanced Materials, to develop an alternative for the treatment of coronary heart disease.

The main idea was born from an effort to improve an already existing medical product called coronary stent, frequently employed in carotid angioplasty, a technique to widen the carotid artery.

"A coronary stent is like a small mesh tube placed inside an artery to free it of obstructions and ensure the vessel remains open," Ms. García explained.

The innovation spawned by this project consists in manufacturing the sent with magnesium metal, a recently-discovered material for this medical application, and that presents biodegradable characteristics, which allow the implant to be naturally reabsorbed by the patient in approximately one month.

The project proposed manufacturing a stent or mesh to be introduced through the femoral artery and guided to the carotid artery, where it is implanted. These devices help to open a vessel and avoid it narrowing again due to plaque or other factors such as calcium formation.