5 Types of Vascular Disease Devices That You Should Know About

Medical science has witnessed one of the biggest transformations due to scientific and technological developments. From performing surgeries without administering any form of anesthetic to transplanting organs successfully, medical science has come a long way. There are stories of medical miracles wherein a near-dead person has been completely cured with right medical help and supervision. The Covid-19 pandemic has presented the world with many such stories in which the patient’s lungs were almost completely infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, yet with appropriate medical treatment, the patient was completely cured. Many subtle inventions and developments have contributed to this glaring success of the medical field. Vascular disease devices are one of such subtle inventions which have fundamentally changed the way vascular diseases are treated.

Vascular diseases are those diseases which affect the blood circulation in the body and impact the functioning of the heart. There are several bodily factors which affect the rate of blood circulation in the body such as cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc. The ultimate effect of these factors is on the arteries, veins, and the heart. Vascular disease devices, in order to help in countering the effect of these diseases and to aid in their medical treatment, are inserted into the main arteries or veins of the body via surgery. Vascular disease devices, owing to the trustworthy role played by them in the medical field, have become extremely critical today. The tremendous growth of the global vascular disease devices market is a testament to this fact.

Types of Vascular Disease Devices

Over the years, various types of vascular disease devices have emerged to serve different purposes and functions. Some of these devices are given below:

1. Stents:

Stents are plastic or metal tubes which are inserted in a blood vessels like arteries or veins, or in ducts so as to keep the passageway open. Sometimes expandable stents are also used to increase the width of the pathway which has been contracted due to reasons like cholesterol. Stents are generally used in the treatment of atherosclerosis, a disease caused by abnormalities in the walls of arteries. These vascular disease devices are also extensively used in coronary angioplasty, a medical procedure performed to clear the blockages in major arteries and veins.

2. Catheters:

Catheters are vascular disease devices in the form of thin tubes which help in performing various surgeries. Catheters are generally inserted in bodily cavities, blood vessels, or ducts and their main purpose is to allow the flow or drainage of fluids and gases which are administered during or after a medical procedure is performed. Sometimes, catheters are also used to administer drugs or micronutrients to the patient. Depending on the medical condition of the patient, catheters can be inserted temporarily or permanently in the patient’s body.

3. Inferior Vena Cava Filters:

Inferior vena cava filters are vascular filters inserted specifically in the inferior vena cava to prevent a medical condition known as pulmonary emboli. Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is a medical condition which results in blockage of an artery in the pulmonary organs i.e., the lungs. In PE, this blockage is caused due to a substance which has travelled from other parts of the body through the blood vessels. In order to counter this life-threatening medical condition, these vascular disease devices are placed in the inferior vena cava, a major vein which transports deoxygenated impure blood to the right atrium of the heart.

4. Plaque Modification Devices:

Plaque modification devices are mainly used in medical procedures know as atherectomy. Atherectomy, like angioplasty, is performed to remove plaque from blood vessels. However, the main difference between the two procedures is that, while angioplasty with the help of stents, plaque is pushed into the vessel wall, and in atherectomy, with the help of plaque modification devices, the plaque is cut from the vessel walls. Also, since atherectomy are generally performed on arteries, plaque modification devices are generally used in arteries.

5. Balloon Catheters:

Balloon catheters are flexible catheters which have inflatable “balloon” at its tip. This flexible nature of balloon catheters helps in increasing the size of the concerned cavity or duct during the medical procedure. Once the medical procedure is completed, the balloon catheter can be deflated and removed from the body. Balloon catheters are generally used in angioplasty procedures.

The Bottom Line

Vascular disease devices have created a win-win situation for both, patients and doctors. These devices have helped in increasing the overall life-expectancy of the patients suffering from vascular diseases, while at the same time helped the doctors in performing critical medical procedures and surgeries with ease. Some concerns, however, remain with respect to the side effects associated with some of these vascular disease devices. Research and development is underway so as to overcome these side-effects and address these issues.

About the Author(s)

Princy A. J

Princy holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the prestigious Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. University at Chennai, India. After a successful academic record, she pursued her passion for writing. A thorough professional and enthusiastic writer, she enjoys writing on various categories and advancements in the global industries. She plays an instrumental role in writing about current updates, news, blogs, and trends.