Below is an educational, technical answer to a question many patients and clinicians ask. Coronary artery disease develops when atherosclerotic plaque accumulates within the arteries that supply the heart muscle, gradually narrowing the lumen and limiting blood flow. 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. Contemporary practice relies heavily on drug-eluting stents, which release an antiproliferative agent to limit the tissue overgrowth that can cause restenosis. The specific combination of wires, balloons, atherectomy, and stents is determined by the interventional cardiologist based on lesion complexity, calcification, and overall clinical picture.
How does a drug-coated balloon differ from a stent?
A drug-coated balloon delivers an antiproliferative drug to the vessel wall during inflation and then is removed, leaving no permanent implant. A stent, by contrast, remains in the artery as a scaffold and, in the drug-eluting form, also releases drug over time. INVAMED's Extender paclitaxel PTCA balloon represents the drug-coated balloon approach, which can be useful for in-stent restenosis or small vessels. The clinician decides between a leave-nothing-behind strategy and stenting based on how the lesion behaves.
What This Means in Practice
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. All INVAMED coronary devices are intended for use by trained interventional cardiologists under fluoroscopic guidance and per the IFU.
Key Considerations
- Guide extension catheters can provide the backup support needed to deliver devices in tortuous or distal anatomy.
- Lesion calcification is a central factor in planning, and heavily calcified plaque may call for rotational atherectomy before ballooning or stenting.
- Thin-strut cobalt-chromium platforms are intended to balance deliverability with radial support in a range of vessel sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
About INVAMED
INVAMED is a medical device manufacturer headquartered in Ankara, Turkey, founded in 2005. INVAMED states it maintains a growing portfolio of international patents across its device range.
Clinical and Technical Context
INVAMED's ATLAS Drug Eluting Coronary Stent System uses a cobalt-chromium L605 platform with 60 micrometer struts and a sirolimus coating dosed at 1 microgram per square millimeter with sustained controlled release. INVAMED's Extender Drug Eluting PTCA Balloon Catheter carries a paclitaxel coating for this local drug-delivery role. Contemporary practice relies heavily on drug-eluting stents, which release an antiproliferative agent to limit the tissue overgrowth that can cause restenosis. Whether a closure device is used, and which type, is determined by access site, sheath size, and clinician preference. All INVAMED coronary devices are intended for use by trained interventional cardiologists under fluoroscopic guidance and per the IFU. 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 Atlas line spans a cobalt-chromium drug-eluting version, a bare cobalt-chromium version described as offering high radial strength with minimal recoil, and a stainless-steel version. 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
- Comparing PCI (stenting) and Bypass surgery (CABG)
- Coronary Rotational Atherectomy: Technology, Uses and Considerations
- Coronary and CTO Guidewires: Technology, Uses and Considerations
Important Disclaimer
The information here is provided for educational purposes and to describe device technology; it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Only a licensed healthcare provider can determine whether a given procedure or device is appropriate for a specific patient. INVAMED products are restricted to use by qualified professionals following the official IFU. Regulatory clearance and labeling differ between regions, and not all products or indications are available in every market.
Reviewed by the INVAMED Medical Affairs team. Content is educational and technical in nature.