March 14, 2001

Terumo introduces new NT Stent II percutaneous biliary stent system

Tokyo-based Terumo Corporation has launched the new NT Stent II, a tube-shaped metallic device to re-open bile ducts that have been blocked due to diseases such as cancer.

The mesh of the NT Stent II is the "Double Spiral "construction, fitting snugly into severely curved or stenosed sections of the bile duct. The structure is long-lasting, ensuring that the ducts remain open.

The external diameter of the stent is approximately 0.3mm less than the existing products (Terumo data), requiring only a small incision to insert the device into the patient's body.

The recommended retail price for the NT Stent II is 252,000 yen (plus consumption tax), with sales of 150 million yen predicted for the first year.

A stent to prevent bile duct blockage

Bile manufactured by the liver flows through the bile duct into the intestines.

Bile works to emulsify fat and absorb it into the bloodstream, but when the bile duct or surrounding organs become blocked to due to diseases such as cancer, bile no longer flows into the intestine, resulting in jaundice. When this happens, a plastic tube is inserted directly into the abdomen through which the bile is excreted, or alternatively a tube-shaped stent is positioned in the bile duct to expand the narrowed section and allow the bile to flow again.

Many hospitals opt for the insertion of a plastic tube, but because the lumen is narrow, it easily becomes blocked, requiring frequent replacement of the tube, and because the tube runs outside the body, the patient must be hospitalized to prevent infection.

In comparison, insertion of a stent allows the patient to be cared for at home, and to bathe as normal. This approach has recently become popular as it improves the patient's quality of life.

NT Stent II product features

1. Double spiral construction for flexibility and strength
   Double spiral construction ensures that the stent fits snugly into severely curved or stenosed sections of the bile duct. The structure is long-lasting, ensuring that the duct remains open.
2. Smaller introducer sheath
   The external diameter of the sheath used to introduce the stent into the patient's body, is about 0.3mm smaller (Terumo data) than existing stents, reducing physical stress on the patient. The stent and the delivery system are a single unit, making it easier to position the stent. (The stent itself is 10mm in diameter.)
3. Surface coating
   The internal and external surfaces of the stent are covered with a flexible film coating.

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