Bio-absorbable Cardiovascular Implants: Status and Prognosis

There are three major classes of cardiovascular implants that can benefit from biodegradable materials: coronary/peripheral stents, occluders for heart defects, and embolic devices. We review the progress made in these three device classes, and offer our own prognosis for where the technology needs to improve. Although there has been product withdrawals of an approved fully resorbable stent (Absorb BVS), we believe that metallic bioresorbable stents may have a role to play. Likewise, in the area of embolic devices, there is a need for a quick-acting, fully-degradable device that blocks certain blood vessels. Most of the push for bioabsorbable occluders will come from countries where there is a large incidence of heart defects, such as China and India.