SCTIMST unveils Chitra Core, its first coronary stent
This indigenous device aims to reduce stent-related complications such as restenosis and thrombosis, featuring a patented design with 30-40% less metal than conventional stents.
In 1990, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) pioneered a "frugal" innovation in cardiac surgery with their Chitra Heart Valve, an indigenously developed cardiac prosthetic valve that has been implanted in over two lakh individuals since its inception. Now, SCTIMST has unveiled its latest home-grown innovation, the Chitra Core, a fully indigenously developed coronary stent made from a single Cobalt-Chromium alloy platform.
The product's commercial soft launch took place on August 15, 2026, at the annual Interventional Cardiology Council of Kerala conference. Chitra TiN, a bare metal stent coated with Titanium Nitride, is also in the works and is set to undergo pre-clinical evaluations before a global launch. Both Chitra Core and Chitra TiN were developed by the Division of Artificial Internal Organs at the Biomedical Technology wing of SCTIMST and transferred to Invasive Technologies Pvt Ltd., a partnership formalized in 2024.
Chitra Core stands out due to its patented design innovation, choice of materials, and manufacturing process, with a 30-40% reduction in metal content compared to traditional stents, minimizing vessel damage and complications such as restenosis and thrombosis. Chitra TiN's unique metal stent design with TiN coating prevents direct metal contact with blood and tissue, reducing the risk of restenosis and thrombosis.
This cutting-edge innovation has been in development since the late 1980s and has the potential to be a game-changer in cardiac care.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
