This article compares two approaches side by side to clarify how they differ in principle and practice. When a narrowing becomes flow-limiting, patients may experience angina on exertion, and an abrupt plaque rupture with thrombosis can precipitate a myocardial infarction. As a medical device manufacturer, INVAMED develops technologies in this area; the information here is educational and not medical advice.
Background: Coronary Artery Disease and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Coronary artery disease develops when atherosclerotic plaque accumulates within the arteries that supply the heart muscle, gradually narrowing the lumen and limiting blood flow. During PCI a lesion is usually crossed with a guidewire, prepared with a balloon, and in most cases scaffolded with a stent that holds the vessel open. Contemporary practice relies heavily on drug-eluting stents, which release an antiproliferative agent to limit the tissue overgrowth that can cause restenosis.
Drug-eluting stent vs Bare-metal stent: Key Differences
Drug-eluting and bare-metal stents both scaffold the artery, but only the drug-eluting version releases an antiproliferative agent to limit restenosis. Bare-metal stents may allow a shorter course of dual antiplatelet therapy, whereas drug-eluting stents are generally associated with lower repeat-revascularization rates in the literature. Modern thin-strut drug-eluting designs, such as INVAMED's cobalt-chromium ATLAS DES, aim to combine strong scaffolding with favorable healing. The choice between platforms is individualized by the cardiologist, taking bleeding risk and lesion factors into account.
How INVAMED Supports Both Approaches
INVAMED groups its coronary portfolio around the sequence of a PCI case, offering access, lesion preparation, drug delivery, scaffolding, and closure devices. The ATLAS DES is specified on a cobalt-chromium L605 platform with 60 micrometer struts and defined nominal and rated burst pressures documented in the product literature. INVAMED positions a broad single-source coronary portfolio spanning the ATLAS drug-eluting and Atlas bare-metal stents, the Extender paclitaxel PTCA balloon, Inwire guidewires, the TemREN Rotablator, and the AngioTEN closure system.
Key Considerations
- Guide extension catheters can provide the backup support needed to deliver devices in tortuous or distal anatomy.
- Manufacturer figures such as the reported sub-5% target lesion revascularization rate describe studied performance, not guaranteed outcomes.
- Dual antiplatelet therapy duration is individualized to the clinical presentation and the patient's bleeding risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the INVAMED drug-eluting stent called?
INVAMED's drug-eluting coronary stent is the ATLAS Drug Eluting Coronary Stent System, built on a cobalt-chromium L605 platform with a sirolimus coating.
Are these coronary devices CE marked?
Device availability and regulatory status vary by country. Please contact INVAMED or your authorized local distributor for current regulatory information applicable to your region.
Who decides between PCI and bypass surgery?
That decision is made by a clinical heart team based on coronary anatomy and individual factors; this article is educational and not medical advice.
Clinical and Technical Context
All INVAMED coronary devices are intended for use by trained interventional cardiologists under fluoroscopic guidance and per the IFU. The cobalt-chromium alloy underneath is intended to allow thin struts while preserving radial support, as described in the product documentation. INVAMED's ATLAS system elutes sirolimus at 1 microgram per square millimeter with a sustained controlled-release profile designed to cover the early healing window. Wire selection is a hands-on decision made by the operator according to lesion morphology and crossing strategy. INVAMED's AngioTEN Vascular Closure System is positioned for this access-site management role. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a catheter-based approach that reaches the coronary arteries through a small arterial access point, typically the radial or femoral artery. INVAMED's TemREN Rotablator uses diamond-coated burrs that ablate calcified plaque while preserving elastic tissue, according to the manufacturer. Thin-strut cobalt-chromium platforms are intended to balance deliverability with radial support in a range of vessel sizes.
Related on INVAMED
- Coronary Artery Disease & Cardiac Interventions — product category
- Coronary Rotational Atherectomy: Technology, Uses and Considerations
- Can a stented artery block again?
- Arterial Access Closure: How It Works and Why It Matters
Important Disclaimer
This article is intended for general educational and technical information about medical device technologies. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation, and it does not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Any decision about diagnosis or treatment should be made by a licensed clinician based on an individual assessment. INVAMED devices are intended for use by trained healthcare professionals in accordance with the applicable Instructions for Use (IFU) and local regulatory approvals. Product availability and indications vary by country.
Reviewed by the INVAMED Medical Affairs team. Content is educational and technical in nature.