Biotronik's Disappearing Act

Any concerns about coronary stents and their safety have, obviously, long been put to rest. But one concern still lingers in the minds of some: why use a permanent device to do a temporary job? Phrased differently, how much better would it be to have a stent that, upon completing the remodeling job to keep the arteries open, simply disappeared? That's the promise of bioabsorbable stents. And one company, Berlin-based Biotronik GMBH & Co., hopes to capitalize on that promise.