A novel flexible endovascular stent for use in small and tortuous vessels

We assessed in vivo the mode of delivery, short-term patency and cellular r esponse to a prototype endovascular stent. The stent is designed for delive ry through a modified microcatheter and is retrievable with detachment from a delivery wire effected by electrolysis. We successfully deployed 12 sten ts in a range of sizes from 3-4 mm in straight and angled arteries of pigs. At control angiography 3 and 6 weeks later, nine arteries were patent, two occluded and one narrowed, patency was not related to vessel or stent size . The device shows promise as a stent for intracranial arteries since it ca n be delivered through microcatheters small enough for intracranial navigat ion and provides the operator with greater control than currently available self- or balloon-expanded stents.