Interventional cardiology refers to the branch of medicine that deals with the minimally invasive treatment of coronary artery disease through catheter-based technologies. When coronary arteries become blocked, the blockages are detected and treated by inserting catheter-based devices through a small incision in the groin or other arterial access point. The main form of minimally invasive treatment for coronary artery disease is stents – scaffold-like structures used to open arteries. Billions of healthcare dollars are spent each year on bare-metal and drug-eluting coronary stents, and much controversy remains surrounding the comparison between these devices. The global interventional cardiology device series covers coronary stents (both bare-metal and drug-eluting), percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty balloon catheters, guidewires, guiding catheters, diagnostic catheters, and other accessory devices.
