Stent Retriever – The Latest Device to Restore Blood Flow to the Brain

Neuroscience is enriching with new emerging technologies from last few decades. There has seen significant changes in the ways and techniques to restore blood flow in the brain due to stroke or clogged arteries and remove blood clots that cause stroke. Earlier physicians started using Operating Microscopes which allowed surgeons to perform delicate microsurgeries. Recently they have begun using minimally invasive endovascular techniques. A benefit of Endovascular techniques is that they do not require invasive open surgery. To improve blood flow of the brain and the heart similar techniques and procedures are used. Including, stenting, bypass surgery, and balloon angioplasty. Stent Retriever is one of the latest devices. This device is a mesh tube attached to the wire and is self-expanding. When a clot is blocking blood flow to a part of the brain the device is guided through a blood vessel. The device immediately restores blood flow by pushing the blood clot against the wall of the blood vessel. Then the clot is grabbed by the stent retriever and pulled out when the physician removes the catheter. Dr. Gomez says that, because of the neuroendovascular technique,  which he started using 20 years ago, “the chances a stroke patient will have a good outcome are two to three times better now than they were 10 to 15 years ago." The major cause of neurologic death and disability worldwide is cerebral vascular insufficiency (not enough blood flow to the brain.) But modern Endovascular techniques can prevent a stroke in its tracks by removing blockages. Because of the advancement of minimally-invasive techniques and mechanical thrombectomy (blood clot removal) stroke patients can now live a normal life who otherwise would be permanently disabled from stroke.