Strut thickness sounds like a minor engineering footnote, but it has occupied a surprisingly large amount of attention in interventional cardiology literature over the past two decades. A thin strut stent is generally defined as one with struts measuring well under 100 microns, a category that has grown as alloy technology has improved. This shift did not happen for cosmetic reasons. Thinner struts are commonly discussed in the literature as being linked to practical benefits during both the delivery of the device and the vessel's healing response afterward, though the degree of benefit can vary by device and clinical setting.
Why Has Strut Thickness Become a Design Priority?
Early bare-metal and first-generation drug-eluting stents often used struts in the range of 100 to 140 microns, largely because the metals available at the time required that thickness to achieve adequate radial strength. As alloy technology advanced, particularly with cobalt-chromium and platinum-chromium platforms, manufacturers found they could reduce strut thickness substantially while maintaining scaffolding force. This mattered because a thinner strut profile generally makes a stent more flexible and lower profile, which can ease passage through tortuous or heavily calcified coronary segments that are common in patients with more advanced coronary artery disease.
What Is Endothelialization and Why Does It Get Discussed So Often?
Endothelialization refers to the process by which the inner lining of the artery, the endothelium, grows over and covers the stent struts after implantation. This process is commonly discussed in the literature as occurring more quickly over thinner struts compared with thicker ones, since a thinner strut presents less of a physical obstruction for the surrounding tissue to cover. Faster strut coverage is generally considered relevant because exposed metal struts are one of several factors associated with the need for extended antiplatelet therapy following stent placement. It is worth noting this remains an area of ongoing study, and outcomes can vary based on stent design, drug coating, and individual patient healing.
How Does Strut Thickness Affect Deliverability Through Difficult Anatomy?
Deliverability is the practical, hands-on side of stent design: can the device reach and cross the target lesion without excessive resistance. Thinner struts are commonly associated with improved flexibility and a lower crossing profile, both of which are reported in the literature as helpful when navigating angulated vessels or lesions with significant calcification. This is a meaningful consideration for physicians treating complex coronary anatomy, where a stent that is difficult to deliver can extend procedure time or require additional supportive techniques.
The ATLAS System's 60 Micron Strut Platform
The ATLAS Drug Eluting Coronary Stent System, manufactured by INVAMED, uses a thin-strut cobalt-chromium L605 platform with a strut thickness reported by the manufacturer at 60 µm. The manufacturer describes this design as supporting durable radial strength alongside improved trackability in complex or calcified coronary lesions, and the stent also carries a sirolimus drug coating intended to help limit restenosis. Detailed specifications and the Instructions for Use (IFU) are published on the ATLAS Drug Eluting Coronary Stent System product page. Indications and availability vary by country and should be confirmed against the current IFU.
Does Strut Thickness Alone Determine Stent Outcomes?
Strut thickness is one input among many that shape how a stent performs, alongside drug coating, polymer type, stent geometry, and the specific lesion being treated. No single specification determines outcomes in isolation, and comparing devices purely by strut thickness numbers without considering the full design context has limited practical value. A qualified physician considers the complete device profile together with the patient's vessel anatomy when selecting an appropriate stent for a given coronary lesion.
Is a thinner strut always better for every coronary lesion?
Not necessarily, since strut thickness is only one factor among several device characteristics that influence performance. Vessel size, calcification, and lesion location also matter, and a qualified physician weighs all of these together when selecting a device for a specific patient.
Does thinner strut design reduce the need for antiplatelet therapy?
Antiplatelet therapy duration is determined by a physician based on multiple factors, including stent type, lesion characteristics, and individual patient bleeding and clotting risk. Strut thickness is discussed in the literature as one relevant factor, but it does not independently dictate a specific therapy duration.
How is strut thickness measured and reported by manufacturers?
Strut thickness is typically measured in microns and reported by manufacturers as a specification within the device's technical documentation and Instructions for Use. This figure describes the cross-sectional dimension of the metal strut itself, separate from the stent's overall diameter or length.
Device availability and regulatory status vary by country. Please contact INVAMED or your authorized local distributor for current regulatory information applicable to your region.