Drug-eluting stent strut distribution: a comparison between Cypher and Taxus by optical coherence tomography.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to compare the stent strut distribution between Cypher and Taxus stents by using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in a phantom model.


BACKGROUND
Previous studies demonstrated that the distribution of stent struts might affect amount of neointima proliferation after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation.


METHODS
We developed experimental models made of silicon tubing angled at 0 degrees, 30 degrees, and 60 degrees. Testing was performed on two types of stents, Cypher and Taxus, which represent current FDA-approved DES. After deployment, OCT was performed and measurements were obtained as follows at two cross sections; maximum and minimum numbers of visualized stent strut sites: (1) number of visualized stent struts; (2) angle between stent struts (interstrut angle); (3) mean interstrut angle; (4) the delta mean angle was defined as the margin between each value of the interstrut angle and mean interstrut angle.


RESULTS
In the Cypher stent, both the interstrut angle and the delta mean angle were significantly better than all other stents evaluated (all comparisons between stents; p < 0.05, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study found that the stent strut distribution of two stents, Cypher and Taxus, which represent current FDA-approved drug-eluting systems, were significantly different and suggested that the Cypher stent maintained a more regular strut distribution despite expansion in various anatomical situations, and therefore would provide the most regular and predictable drug delivery.
Suzuki
Yoriyasu
Y
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
Ikeno
Fumiaki
F
Yeung
Alan C
AC
D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015607:Stents; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations