Development of gold stents for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms: an experimental study in a canine model.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Gold has often been used in medicine because of its radiopacity and flexibility. To perform stent-supported coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms, we prepared a gold stent and examined its flexibility, radiopacity, and thrombogenic properties in comparison with a stainless steel device implanted in vitro and in vivo. METHODS Gold stents were prepared by plating gold on stainless steel stents as a template. Their mechanical properties and trackability in vitro were determined and compared with those of stainless steel stents of the same design. Twenty gold stents and two stainless steel stents were implanted in canine external carotid, vertebral, and renal arteries, as a muscle branch of the maxillary arteries, to examine their performance in vivo. RESULTS The gold stent exhibited much less radial force and greater flexibility than the stainless steel stent. It also demonstrated superior trackability and radiopacity in the experimental endovascular procedures in canines. Histologic examination showed good patency of the stented artery with slight endothelial hypertrophy. CONCLUSION Although there is still room for more radial strength, less influence on intimal hypertrophy, a more suitable flexibility, and a smoother surface, the superior trackability and radiopacity of gold stents seem to support use of this device for the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms.