On March 2, 2020 a research team of Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Science and Technology (SCTIMST),Thiruvananthapuram, an Institute of National Importance under the Department of Science and Technology has developed an innovative intracranial flow diverter stent named as Chitra Flow Diverter for the treatment of aneurysms of the blood vessels of the brain.The new technology is ready for transfer & further testing in animals, followed by human trials.
Intracranial aneurysm
Intracranial aneurysm is a localized ballooning, bulging or dilation of arteries in the brain caused by progressive weakening of the inner muscles of the wall of blood vessels. Spontaneous rupture of the aneurysm can result in bleeding into the space around the brain resulting in a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Subarachnoid hemorrhage can lead to paralysis, coma or death.
There is one surgical & 3 non-surgical treatment of aneurysm & among them the best way is deploying a flow stent to bypass the segment of the blood vessel which has the aneurysm, which reduces the chances of rupture of aneurysm.
Flow Diverter Stent
i.Flow diverters are flexible & adaptable to the shape & course of the vessel & promote healing of the vessel wall by removing constant stress of blood flow on it.
ii.It has better grip on the walls of arteries of complex shapes in order to reduce the risk of migration of the device
iii.Stent is resistant to kinking or twisting when it is placed in tortuous arteries & those with complex shapes, even a 180 degrees bend does not occlude the lumen of the stent.
iv.For better visibility in X –Rays & fluoroscopy which aids accurate delivery of the diverter in the blood vessel a portion of the wires is made radio opaque
v.The Flow diverter stent is not manufactured in India & is imported at a cost of Rs 7-8 Lakhs.
vi.The flow diverter is delivered to the aneurysm in the brain using a delivery system. The delivery system is also developed by the team.
vii.SCTIMST has filed separate patents for the stent and the delivery system.
About SCTIMST
Director- Dr Asha Kishore
Location- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
