Interpretation of the Industry for Thrombectomy Stents

Stroke remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The advent of endovascular therapy has revolutionized the treatment and outcomes of acute stroke. Multiple randomized trials have confirmed the beneficial impact of endovascular thrombectomy on large vessel occlusion strokes, making it a primary treatment method. In a short period after providing mechanical thrombectomy for stroke treatment, endovascular thrombectomy devices have undergone significant evolution. Thrombectomy stents (stent-based thrombectomy devices) have become the main instruments for stroke treatment by neurointerventionists worldwide.

Structure and Composition of Thrombectomy Stent

Intracranial thrombectomy stents are devices used to treat cerebrovascular diseases, primarily for the treatment of cerebral embolism. Their main feature is that they can be implanted through endovascular interventional surgery, avoiding the trauma of traditional craniotomy, thus reducing surgical risks and recovery time. Intracranial thrombectomy stents are usually composed of a metal mesh, which possesses good flexibility and elasticity to adapt to blood vessels of different shapes and sizes. The main components include the stent body and the guidewire, where the stent body is used to occlude the embolism's vessel and the guidewire is used to guide the stent into the vessel.

Basic Principle of Thrombectomy Stent Thrombectomy

The principle of modern thrombectomy stent is that, under the guidance of imaging technology, the physician threads a guidewire through the thrombus and places a microcatheter, then inserts the thrombectomy stent. Following the withdrawal of the microcatheter, the nitinol stent is automatically released, opens up, and the stent's struts combine with the thrombus, embedding the thrombus into the stent's mesh structure. By removing both the thrombus and the stent from the body, the thrombectomy surgery is completed. Anouchska S. A. Autar et al. observed samples of stent and thrombus retrieved from patients in the MR CLEAN registry study using micro-CT, histopathology, and electron microscopy scanning. They demonstrated the basic forms of interaction between the stent struts and the thrombus, categorizing them into "mechanical type" and "adhesive type." The embedding of the stent struts and thrombus is the fundamental principle of all stent thrombectomy devices.

Industry Development of Thrombectomy Stents

Asia-Pacific Region (Taking China as an Example)

With the aging population intensifying, the number of AIS (acute ischemic stroke) patients in China is increasing annually. The penetration rate of thrombectomy stent interventional treatment surgeries is also increasing. With more thrombectomy stent products gaining approval and entering the market, China's thrombectomy stent market is growing rapidly. The market size for thrombectomy stents has grown from 300 million RMB in 2017 to 800 million RMB in 2022, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.9%. It is projected that by 2028, the market size of thrombectomy stents in China could reach 3.1 billion RMB, with a CAGR of 25.0%.

North America

North America holds a leading position in the global cardiovascular stent market, with a market share as high as 40%. This is mainly attributed to the high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases caused by unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles leading to obesity and diabetes. Therefore, the demand for cardiovascular interventional products like thrombectomy stents is relatively high in North America, presenting significant market potential.

Europe

The European market also has considerable scale, especially in developed countries like Germany, the United Kingdom, and France, where the demand in the heart stent sector is strong. These countries have stringent requirements for medical technology and high expectations for the quality and performance of high-end medical products like thrombectomy stents. Hence, the demand for thrombectomy stents in Europe is also robust, providing strong support for market growth.