Expert: Carolyn Primus - 3/19/2010

Question
Dear mr. Primus,
I am interested to know more about Manufacturing of Medical Angioplasty Stents. Design and Production.
I am a mechanical engineering graduate and working with a PVC catheter manufacturing company for the past 6 months.
I want learn the design and Manufacturing science of Stents. From materials - design - production - and application. What would be the best way to learn that?
Can you suggest any books / literature for the same? Is there any short term course for such a field?
Is there a HOW IT'S MADE book for stents?
Thanks.

Answer
• Check the websites of device makers to see the state of the art: Boston Scientific, Medtronics,for example.
• Check and talk to outsourced manufacturing firms such as: http://www.pulsesystems.com/?gclid=CICk5sOhyKACFRghnAodIFFcbA
• Read books such as: Handbook of Angioplasty and Stenting Procedures , Vascular Interventional Radiology Angioplasty, Stenting, Thrombolysis and Thrombectomy.  Carotid Artery Stenting: The Basics, or Practical Carotid Artery Stenting.
• Read the patent literature to get ideas about manufcaturing from the background sections.

• Read journals such as: Cardiovascular Engineering. Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology, Cardiovascular Intervention and Therapeutics

• Stent manufacturers are VERY secretive and competitive- so I don't know of a short course on this for engineers- but there probably are some for physicians, which would be helpful too.

• Tradeshows and scientific meetings would be of great interest too. Then you can hear from the top people in the field and ask questions too.  

Best of luck to you,

PS. "Mr." is an assumption that is passé.