SCTIMST Develops Affordable Aortic Stent Graft and its Delivery System

The Stent Graft is developed by the project team including Dr. Sujesh Sreedharan, Engineer-F, Division of Artificial Internal Organs, Biomedical Technology Wing, Dr. Jayadevan ER, Additional Professor, Imaging Sciences and Interventional Radiology,Dr. Santhosh Kumar K. Additional Professor, Imaging Sciences and Interventional Radiology and Dr. Unnikrishnan M, Professor (Senior Grade, Rtd), Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery.

During the EVAR procedure the sheath along with the crimped stent graft are inserted through the femoral artery (in the groin area) and to reach the aneurysm. The catheter sheath is then retrieved using a mechanism provided in the delivery system after deploying the stent-graft at the correct position. The stent graft expands and fixes firmly on the inner aortic wall because of the superelastic property exerted by the NiTi rings. Once the stent graft in place, blood flow occurs only through the conduit created by the stent-graft .Thus excluding the aneurysm and preventing its rupture.

An aortic aneurysm is a ballooning or enlargement of the aorta. Aortic aneurysm is a disease affecting about 5% of the population in their late sixties and can be fatal in case of rupture. Most patients with aortic aneurysms do not have any symptoms at all.

The aneurysm is usually discovered by X-ray during a routine health exam for some other, unrelated condition.