It doesn’t take long for kids to figure out that people come in all different shapes and sizes and that what differentiates us from one another is what makes us unique. And while we are told from a young age that we are all the same inside—that we all see, smell, taste, touch and hear the same as one another—there are nuances to this that become apparent as we age.
Our vasculature is a good case in point. While our arteries all carry blood to and from the heart, they are not all the same size. And when it comes to cardiovascular disease and the stents designed to treat it, size matters. That’s why Abbott has invested in the research and development of stents that not only vary in length but also vary based on the diameter of the vessels being treated.
The launch of the c in 4.5 & 5.0 mm sizes is the result of several new research and development initiatives. In order to make these expanded-size stents to treat larger vessels, Abbott leveraged its existing balloon technology to place the XIENCE™ stent platform on larger balloons. These medical devices then underwent rigorous testing to ensure safety and quality. Next, new manufacturing processes were implemented, which enabled product production at scale.
Why is this important?
The new sizes give physicians more choice and an option that didn’t exist before—and they increase the convenience for the physician, helping reduce the risk of complications when treating a 5.0-millimeter vessel. These means physicians can use the 5.0-millimeter stent diameter without the need to post-dilate.
There are other advantages to using this drug-eluting stent in a larger size—it is the only stent of it’s size that is indicated for high bleeding risk patients with 1-month and 3-month Dual Anti-Platelet Therapy (DAPT) labeling.
At Abbott’s vascular business, our vision is to reduce the burden of vascular diseases for patients around the world by continuously improving our family of minimally invasive vascular technologies. Abbott’s tools give physicians the precision—and confidence they need to treat patients; to have visibility into arteries and remove blockages to help patients heal faster. The XIENCE™ Family of Stents is designed with unique attributes that make it an excellent choice for large vessels – this includes excellent longitudinal strength and features that allow it to be placed precisely in the location needed.
