Why use balloons instead of stents?

In the field of interventional medicine, balloons and stents are the two core tools for solving vascular stenosis or obstruction. The two are often compared, but it is not a simple substitution relationship, but a precise solution tailored to different clinical needs. Shanghai Wewei Technology, as a leading provider of core components and ODM services for interventional medical devices in China, can provide customers with full chain support from design to manufacturing with a deep understanding of the core technology of balloon catheters and stent delivery systems. So, in what scenario would a doctor choose a "balloon" instead of a "stent"?

The core advantages of balloons: temporality and flexibility

Unlike stents as permanent implants, balloon dilation is a "temporary" intervention method, which is precisely its irreplaceable advantage.

1. Reserve future treatment options:

Implanting stents in special locations such as bifurcation of blood vessels, small blood vessels, or in underage patients may permanently alter the vascular anatomy and potentially affect subsequent intervention or bypass surgery pathways. Simply using balloon dilation (such as regular balloons or drug coated balloons) can relieve stenosis without leaving metal implants, preserving all possibilities for future treatments. The high-performance non compliant balloon provided by Wewei Technology, with its precise naming pressure and burst pressure, can achieve controllable and uniform expansion, making it an ideal choice for such applications.

2. Essential tools for handling special lesions:

For restenosis lesions within the stent, re implantation of the stent within the existing metal mesh will form a "nested doll" structure, exacerbating the problem of vascular endothelialization. At this point, drug coated balloons have become the standard treatment option. It delivers anti proliferative drugs directly through a balloon and briefly acts on the blood vessel wall, inhibiting excessive intimal hyperplasia without increasing the number of metal layers. Wewei Technology's processes in drug coating technology and balloon surface modification can help customers optimize drug delivery efficiency and uniformity.

3. To pave the way for stent implantation:

In severely calcified or completely occluded lesions, blood vessels are as hard as stones, making it difficult for stents to pass through smoothly and fully dilate. At this point, it is necessary to first use high-pressure balloons or cutting balloons for sufficient pre expansion, even plaque modification, to create conditions for the subsequent perfect adhesion of the stent. The reinforced balloon manufactured by Wewei Technology has extremely high burst pressure and excellent puncture resistance, making it a reliable "pioneer" in overcoming calcified lesions.

The choice between balloon or stent depends on the specific lesion characteristics, vascular anatomy, and clinical goals. The value of Shanghai Wewei Technology lies not only in its ability to provide high-end balloon catheters that meet international standards (including semi compliant, non compliant, scored/cut balloons, etc.), but also in its expertise in the research and manufacturing of stent delivery systems.

This synchronous deep cultivation of the two major technology platforms enables Weiwei Technology to provide customers with optimal solutions from the perspective of system integration. For example, optimizing the interface between the balloon and stent to ensure smooth release and precise positioning of the stent; Or develop specialized pre expansion balloons and post expansion balloons to form a synergistic treatment plan with the stent system.

The key to why balloons are used instead of stents lies in the precise matching of clinical needs. Balloon plays a crucial role in interventional therapy due to its temporary, flexible, and irreplaceable nature for specific lesions. Shanghai Wewei Technology empowers medical device companies to develop high-performance balloon solutions through its powerful precision machining, materials science, and drug delivery technology platforms, complementing stent technology to provide doctors with a more complete and personalized arsenal, ultimately benefiting patients.