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Experimental Results with the Multi-Linkª Stent in a Porcine Model
1Associate Director, Cardiovascular Research, Heart Institute at Borgess Medical Center, 1521 Gull Road, Kalamazoo, MI, 49001, USA.
The Journal of Invasive Cardiology
|April 14, 2000
Summary
The Multi-Link stent demonstrated reliable delivery and deployment in porcine coronary arteries, showing good biocompatibility and minimal recoil when appropriately sized. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm its impact on patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular research
- Biomedical engineering
- Interventional cardiology
Background:
- The Multi-Link stent features a unique interconnected corrugated ring structure for compressive resistance and flexibility.
- Its performance and vascular response in normal porcine coronary arteries required detailed characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the delivery characteristics of the Multi-Link stent.
- To assess the acute and chronic vascular response to Multi-Link stent placement in porcine coronary arteries.
Main Methods:
- Utilized quantitative coronary angiography to analyze stent expansion and recoil.
- Performed histologic assessment to evaluate vascular response at 72 hours, 14 days, and 56 days.
- Tested the stent in 19 miniature swine with normolipemic conditions.
Main Results:
- Achieved 100% successful stent implantation with minimal recoil after deployment.
- Demonstrated patent stents at all follow-up points with no migration or occlusion.
- Observed rare arterial wall injury and consistent neointimal area formation at 14 and 56 days.
Conclusions:
- The Multi-Link stent is easily delivered and reliably deployed in this model.
- Its design offers compressive resistance, flexibility, and uniform arterial coverage.
- The stent exhibits acceptable biocompatibility, though oversizing may increase recoil; clinical trials will validate long-term efficacy.