Drug-Eluting Balloons

This channel includes news and new technology innovations for drug-coated balloons (DCB), also referred to as drug-eluting balloons. These are used to treat peripheral and coronary artery lesions and restenosis. The balloons carry an antiproliferative drug that is delivered to the wall of arteries when the balloon is expanded. The drug helps prevent neointimal hyperplasia (scar tissue growth) caused by trauma when the vessel segment is treated for atherosclerotic lesions with balloon angioplasty. DCBs can be used to treat hyperplasia in arteriovenous (AV) access fistulae in dialysis patients, where the vessel undergoes repeated trauma from regular punctures. DCBs also are used to treat in-stent restenosis due to scar tissue proliferation inside stents, which can cause a vessel to occlude.