Smart stent feels the squeeze to alert doctors and keep patients safe

Stents are implanted to keep arteries open and prevent heart attack, but a third of patients experience restenosis – or renewed narrowing of the artery – which can lead to complications and the need for further medical intervention.

Now, a team led by University of British Columbia (UBC) electrical and computer engineering professor Kenichi Takahata has developed a “smart stent” that monitors subtle changes in the flow of blood through the artery, detecting the narrowing in its earliest stages and making early diagnosis and treatment possible.

“We modified a stent to function as a miniature antenna and added a special micro-sensor that we developed to continuously track blood flow. The data can then be sent wirelessly to an external reader, providing constantly updated information on the artery’s condition,” said Takahata.

The device is said to use medical-grade stainless steel and looks similar to most commercial stents. It is also the first angioplasty-ready smart stent, so it can be implanted using current medical procedures without modifications.