Preparing stents with masking and etching technology

Nowadays the progress of medical techniques is inconceivable without the application and development of microelectronics technology. Since the beginning of the 70's more and more electronic innovations - e.g. micro motors, micro robots, sensor and microcircuit implants fabricated by thin and thick film technology, the use of lasers in surgery etc. - have helped the work of medical doctors worldwide. With the application of this technology, in the past years, many lives have been saved or in many cases, the most drastic interventions (amputation) could be avoided. For example, the stenosis (narrowing of the arteries) formerly could only be medicated by vascular surgery. Since the appearance of stents, this intervention has been simplified significantly.