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HOW IT’S COATED
Battling Myocardial Infarction with Drug-coated Balloon Catheters Roman Möhlmann Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft - München, Germany
presse@zv.fraunhofer.de
Fraunhofer researchers are developing an automated coating machine to better treat coronary heart diseases.
I
n Germany, nearly 6 million people suffer
Technology IPK is developing a prototype of
balloon catheter is inflated, the stent expands,
from coronary heart disease. The disease is
such a device.
thus expanding the stenosis. The problem
caused by calcium deposits which constrict
Shortness of breath and acute chest pain
is that over the course of a few months, the
the coronary arteries. Doctors generally use a
can be signs of coronary heart disease (CHD).
tissue around the stent can grow back into the
stent to widen the narrow pathway. However,
If left untreated, this can lead to severe
blood vessel. This leads to further constriction
the blood vessel often constricts further,
consequences, including myocardial infarction.
called restenosis. This risk has increasingly led
thus necessitating further interventions. For
Caused by calcium deposits on the inner
doctors to favour an alternative procedure
this reason, a drug-coated balloon catheter
linings of the arteries, CHD is a leading cause
whereby no foreign objects are left in the
inserted in minimally invasive cardiac surgery
of death among adults. This build-up causes
damaged arteries: balloon catheters coated
is increasingly serving as a replacement for
blockage in the veins, and the heart no longer
with immunosuppressors and cytostatic drugs
the risky stent treatment. In current practice,
receives a sufficient supply of oxygen.
are expanded and cause the vessel to dilate
the balloons are often coated manually. A new
Doctors thus widen the constricted pathways
mechanically. The active substances that
device is intended to automate this time-
to allow the blood to once more have
are thus injected into the vessel can inhibit
consuming procedure. Along with partner
unrestricted flow. To achieve this, they insert
restenosis, i.e. the increased growth of the
companies, a team from the Fraunhofer
a balloon catheter with a plastic support, i.e. a
tissue cells due to the mechanical stress,
Institute for Production Systems and Design
“stent”, into the constricted artery. When the
keeping the vessel from closing back up. The
© BVMED
© InnoRA GmbH
Optical inspection of a balloon catheter and a stent on a drug-coated balloon catheter.
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N. 73 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 - international PAINT&COATING magazine
