SCTIMST Develops Affordable Aortic Stent Graft and its Delivery System

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Science and Technology (SCTIMST) , Institution of National Importance under the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, developed affordable Aortic Stent Graft and its delivery system for the treatment of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm.

The stent graft is made up of Polyester fabric seweird in tubular form and are scaffold by NiTi (Nickel Titanium Alloy) rings (stents), which are sewed into the tubular fabric. The NiTi rings were made in collaboration with National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore (CSIR-NAL). The stent-graft is crimped to a lower diameter and is inserted in to the Catheter Sheath (small diameter delivery tube) of the delivery system.

Thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) have an estimated incidence of at least 5-10 per 100,000 person-years. In India currently, Thoracic surgeons use the imported Stent-grafts for the Endovascular Aortic Repair (EAR). Thoracic aortic aneurysm, as there is no indigenous device available in the market. The imported stent-graft (along with its delivery system) costs at least 3.5 lakhs. It is this context there SCTIMST decided to develop an indigenous affordable Stent graft and its delivery system for a thoracic aortic aneurysm.

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.