PalmazSchatz

The Palmaz-Schatz stent is a type of coronary artery stent designed to improve blood flow in narrowed or blocked arteries. Developed in the early 1990s by Dr. Juan C. Schatz and Dr. Roy J. Palmaz, it was one of the first fully expandable metal stents used in cardiovascular procedures. Unlike earlier balloon-expandable stents, which required a guidewire to be placed inside the artery, the Palmaz-Schatz stent could be deployed directly from within the catheter, reducing procedural complexity and time.

This stent consists of a nitinol (a nickel-titanium alloy) mesh that expands to its final diameter under the pressure of a balloon catheter. The nitinol material provides structural support while allowing the artery to gradually dilate over time, minimizing the risk of restenosis, a common complication where the artery narrows again after angioplasty. The stent’s design also helps maintain vessel patency by preventing recoil and providing long-term mechanical support.

The Palmaz-Schatz stent was initially approved for use in the United States in 1994 and has since been widely adopted in interventional cardiology. It has been adapted for various applications, including peripheral arterial disease and other vascular interventions. While newer stents with different materials and designs have emerged, the Palmaz-Schatz remains a foundational technology in endovascular therapy, demonstrating significant advancements in minimally invasive cardiac procedures.