Strokes represent one of the leading causes of death and disability, affecting millions of individuals each year. Globally, more than 12 million people suffer from strokes annually, and more than half do not survive. The primary cause of a stroke is the disruption of blood supply to the brain, usually due to a blocked artery (ischaemic stroke), which accounts for 85% of cases, or a leaking or burst blood vessel (haemorrhagic stroke). As populations age and lifestyle-related conditions become more prevalent, understanding and effectively treating strokes remain critical public health priorities.

Few procedures have impacted stroke treatment as profoundly as thrombectomy. This minimally invasive intervention offers a lifeline to patients suffering from ischaemic strokes, where swift removal of clots from blood vessels can mean the difference between recovery and irreversible pulmonary damage.

According to GlobalData, the neurovascular thrombectomy devices market size was $1.02 billion in 2024 and will grow at a CAGR of more than 9% from 2024 to 2036.

Understanding thrombectomy

Thrombectomy is a procedure designed to extract blood clots obstructing blood vessels, restoring normal circulation through an open surgical thrombectomy or mechanical endovascular thrombectomy. While the former involves direct surgical access to the affected vessel, the latter employs catheter-based techniques to reach and remove clots without the need for large incisions.

Mechanical thrombectomy has gained prominence, especially in treating acute ischaemic strokes. In this procedure, a catheter is navigated through the vascular system to the site of the clot. Devices such as clot retrievers or aspiration catheters are then used to capture and extract the clot, re-establishing blood flow to the affected area of the brain. This method has proven particularly effective in cases where clot-dissolving medications are insufficient.

The success of mechanical thrombectomy heavily relies on the materials used in the construction of the devices. One such material is nitinol, a nickel-titanium alloy known for its unique properties of super-elasticity and shape memory. These characteristics allow devices to navigate the complex and delicate vascular pathways, adapting to the body’s contours and returning to their original shape without causing damage to the vessel walls.

Nitinol’s application extends to various components of thrombectomy devices, including braided or laser cut retrieval bags, funnels, filters, and guidewires. Its flexibility and resilience are crucial in ensuring that devices can be deployed and retrieved safely and effectively, minimising the risk of complications during the procedure.

Alleima stands at the forefront of crafting high-quality materials for medical applications, leveraging its expertise in advanced stainless steels, special alloys, and precision processing of nitinol to design, develop, and manufacture complex medical components and innovative solutions.

Alleima’s nitinol offerings are tailored to meet the stringent demands of medical applications, ensuring the necessary super-elasticity and corrosion resistance required for devices operating within the human body. Alleima’s comprehensive range of precision processing capabilities, including shape-setting, braiding, grinding, joining and surface treatments for nitinol guidewires, bags or filters, are integral to the functionality of thrombectomy devices.

The impact on patient outcomes

The integration of advanced materials such as those provided by Alleima into thrombectomy devices has a direct impact on patient outcomes. The enhanced performance and reliability of these devices contribute to higher success rates in clot removal, reduced procedure times, and lower risks of complications. Consequently, patients experience better recovery trajectories, with many regaining significant neurological function and quality of life post-stroke.

As the medical community continues to refine thrombectomy techniques and expand their application, breakthroughs in material science remain pivotal. Alleima is playing a crucial role in advancing the capabilities of medical interventions and is partnering with leading medical device manufacturers from the idea to the implementation of life-changing medical solutions.

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