Abbott has launched a drug eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) in India, a device for the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). It works by restoring blood flow to the heart, similar to the working of a metallic stent but then dissolves into the body over time, leaving behind a treated vessel that may resume more natural function and movement because it is free of a permanent metallic stent. Abbott’s BVS is made of polylactide, a naturally dissolvable material that is commonly used in medical implants such as dissolving sutures.
The company claims that the potential long-term benefits of a scaffold which dissolves are significant. The vessel may expand and contract as needed to increase the flow of blood to the heart in response to normal activities such as exercising; treatment and diagnostic options are broadened; the need for long-term treatment with anti-clotting medications may be reduced; and future interventions would be unobstructed as it would be by a permanent implant.
Dr Ashok Seth, Chairman, Cardiac Sciences, Fortis Healthcare said, “With the launch of BVS, we can offer our patients a significant advancement in the treatment of coronary artery disease. The structure starts to resorb within one year, allowing the vessel the potential to flex, pulsate and dilate in response to normal activities such as exercise.”
The launch is supported by a clinical trial programme that encompasses five studies in more than 20 countries around the world, including India. It has been implanted in more than 3,000 patients across 30 countries.
EH News Bureau
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