Cypher stent
Encyclopedia
Cypher is a brand of drug-eluting coronary stent
from Cordis Corporation
, a Johnson & Johnson
company. During a balloon angioplasty
, the stent is inserted into the artery to provide a "scaffold" to open the artery. An anti-rejection-type medication, sirolimus
, helps to limit the overgrowth of normal cells while the artery heals which reduces the chance of re-blockage in the treated area known as restenosis
, and reduces the chances that another procedure is required.
Following claims of inconsistent manufacturing processes and poor sales, Johnson & Johnson
have announced that it will stop selling Cypher stents by the end of 2011.
Drug-eluting stent
A drug-eluting stent ' is a peripheral or coronary stent placed into narrowed, diseased peripheral or coronary arteries that slowly releases a drug to block cell proliferation. This prevents fibrosis that, together with clots , could otherwise block the stented artery, a process called restenosis...
from Cordis Corporation
Cordis (medical)
Cordis is a medical device company owned by Johnson & Johnson. The company was founded in Miami in 1959 and is currently headquartered in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey.Cordis' products include stents, distal protection devices, catheters, and guidewires....
, a Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in 1886. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company is listed among the Fortune 500....
company. During a balloon angioplasty
Angioplasty
Angioplasty is the technique of mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel, the latter typically being a result of atherosclerosis. An empty and collapsed balloon on a guide wire, known as a balloon catheter, is passed into the narrowed locations and then inflated to a fixed size...
, the stent is inserted into the artery to provide a "scaffold" to open the artery. An anti-rejection-type medication, sirolimus
Sirolimus
Sirolimus , also known as rapamycin, is an immunosuppressant drug used to prevent rejection in organ transplantation; it is especially useful in kidney transplants. A macrolide, sirolimus was first discovered as a product of the bacterium Streptomyces hygroscopicus in a soil sample from Easter...
, helps to limit the overgrowth of normal cells while the artery heals which reduces the chance of re-blockage in the treated area known as restenosis
Restenosis
Restenosis literally means the reoccurrence of stenosis, a narrowing of a blood vessel, leading to restricted blood flow. Restenosis usually pertains to an artery or other large blood vessel that has become narrowed, received treatment to clear the blockage and subsequently become renarrowed...
, and reduces the chances that another procedure is required.
Following claims of inconsistent manufacturing processes and poor sales, Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson is an American multinational pharmaceutical, medical devices and consumer packaged goods manufacturer founded in 1886. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company is listed among the Fortune 500....
have announced that it will stop selling Cypher stents by the end of 2011.