What Devices Are Needed for Performing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention?

The heart is one of the most important organs of the human body. It helps circulate blood that carries essential nutrients and oxygen to all organs and tissues. Sometimes, the buildup of calcium or fatty substances can cause blockage in the arteries of the heart. This necessitates the use of intervention techniques to remove plaque buildup and restore the normal functioning of the heart.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the standard treatment option used for opening a blocked artery. In this blog post, we explain to you the basics of PCI and how it’s performed. We also cover the key stats for the percutaneous coronary intervention devices market and how AI is changing the market landscape. Continue reading!

What is a Percutaneous Coronary Intervention?

A percutaneous coronary intervention is a commonly performed procedure for removing blocked arteries. In earlier days, it was referred to by the name coronary angioplasty with stenting. Other names for the procedure are balloon angioplasty and coronary angioplasty.

Arteries are blood vessels inside the body. They have the function of carrying oxygen-rich blood from the heart to other parts of the body. A PCI procedure involves the use of a small balloon for reopening the blocked artery. Performing the procedure helps increase the blood flow.

The procedure often involves the use of a small and permanent tube, known as a stent. The use of a stent helps in keeping the artery open for the long term. The stent may also contain medications that help lower the chances of re-narrowing within the stent.

How is Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Carried Out?

The procedure for PCI involves the cardiologist making a small incision. They then guide a catheter through the incision to the heart. The tip of the catheter carries an inflated balloon. After inserting the catheter, the cardiologist makes use of a contrast dye. This allows them to visualize the blocked artery with X-ray fluoroscopy. Then they inflate the balloon for dilating the blocked artery and increasing the flow of blood. Cardiologists typically make use of stents to keep the artery open. Finally, the incision is closed after the removal of the catheter and the deflation of the balloon. The time needed for carrying out a PCI procedure is about half an hour. More complex cases can take up to two hours to complete.

What Devices Are Used for Percutaneous Coronary Intervention?

Carrying out the PCI procedure requires the use of various devices. Catheters, guidewires, and stent accessories are used during the procedure. The importance of these devices is evident from the growing market. Our analysis reveals that the percutaneous coronary intervention devices market is expected to register sustained growth. The PCI market was valued at USD 9.50 billion in 2024. It is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.68% from 2025 to 2034.

Below is an explanation of the various PCI devices:

Coronary Catheters

This is a special type of catheter in the catheter market. It allows for the injection of contrast for a coronary angiogram. It also enables the passage of devices needed for coronary intervention. Diagnosis catheter and guide catheter are the two main types of coronary intervention. A diagnosis catheter has a thicker shaft and a smaller diameter than a guide catheter. The thinner wall of the guide catheter means it requires careful manipulation.

Coronary Guide Wires

Coronary guide wires are specialized devices used for delivering therapies to diseased areas of the coronary arterial system. These wires navigate through the diseased segment to provide a delivery platform. These wires are needed in procedures that involve angioplasty balloons and stents. They are also used with atherectomy and thrombectomy devices.

Coronary Stents

Stents are small open tubes. They are used for holding open passages in the body. There are different types of stents available in the coronary stent market for opening up narrowed arteries. These stents are used in patients who have experienced a sudden heart attack and need immediate treatment for opening blocked arteries. Stents may also be required by patients who are experiencing pain despite taking medication.

What to Expect Before and After PCI?

The healthcare provider provides the patient with information about the preparatory steps needed before the procedure. The procedure usually requires fasting. Patients who are on anticoagulants may be asked to stop them for a prescribed period. This is because the bleeding risk increases with anticoagulants. The patient will be sedated before the start of the procedure. The placement of an IV line is done to administer medications. Electrodes are used for monitoring the heart during the procedure. The use of a pulse oximeter helps in measuring the oxygen saturation level in the blood.

After PCI, the patient is shifted to a recovery room for observation. The stay time in the recovery room depends on the specific conditions of the patient. It typically ranges between 2 and 6 hours. Some patients may see bruises around the area where the catheter was inserted. Mild chest pain is also seen in patients. Patients who have undergone PCI are advised not to drive for 24 hours.

How AI is Transforming PCI Devices?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being increasingly used in several aspects of healthcare. AI is also having a positive impact on PCI devices. The use of AI-enabled software has made it easier for interventional cardiologists to interpret intravascular images. The automation capabilities of AI make it easy to measure vessels precisely and quantify the burden of plaque. The use of AI in pre-procedural imaging helps improve visualization. This, in turn, reduces the time it takes to carry out the procedure. Furthermore, the ability of AI to get physiological information from standard angiograms takes away the need for performing additional invasive measurements.

Conclusion

Cardiovascular diseases are on the rise globally. Many people have blocked arteries due to lifestyle factors and a family history of heart disease. This has created an increased need for intervention procedures such as PCI. Performing PCI procedures requires the use of devices such as catheters, stents, and other accessories. As such, the PCI devices market demand is also on the rise.