Towards a self-reporting coronary artery stent—Measuring neointimal growth associated with in-stent restenosis using electrical impedance techniques

Implantable medical devices have become the standard method for treating a variety of cardiovascular diseases (NICE, 2003 and NICE, 2009), such as coronary artery disease, where coronary artery stents are the device of choice (Fischman et al., 1994 and Babapulle et al., 2004). One post-operative problem with these devices is the long-term monitoring of the device–tissue interface, with respect to the complications that often arise from in-stent restenosis. This monitoring, where it is available, is currently performed using imaging techniques such as contrast angiography, IVUS, CT and MRI. In this study we propose an alternative method for the non-invasive monitoring of restenosis in coronary artery stents. This preliminary study uses impedance spectroscopy to measure the electrical impedance of cells and tissues associated with the neointimal growth that characterises in-stent restenosis in coronary artery stents. An in vitro organ culture model, using a stent implanted in a section of pig coronary artery, simulated tissue growth inside a stent. Impedance measurements were made regularly over a 28-day culture period. In a novel step, the stent itself was employed as an electrode. Differences in electrical impedance could be seen between control (stent alone) and artery-embedded stents in culture, which were associated with the presence of biological tissue. This method could potentially be developed to produce a stent that was capable of self-reporting in-stent restenosis. The advantages of such a device would be that monitoring could be non-invasively and easily carried out, allowing more routine follow-ups and the early identification and management of any device complications.