New generation coronary stent technology--is the future biodegradable?

A new generation of drug eluting coronary stents are undergoing clinical trial evaluation and being introduced into clinical practice. These technologies comprise a broad range of innovations and include non-polymeric stents, biodegradable polymer coated stents and fully biodegradable scaffolds. The new devices are designed to improve long-term safety and efficacy and overcome limitations associated with a durable polymer and a persistent metallic stent scaffold. At the present time, none have demonstrated convincing superiority over current second generation drug eluting stents and large, long-term randomised controlled trials are required.