Evolution of drug-eluting stents
| First generation |
| Nonbiodegradable (ie, durable) polymer-based thick strut Sirolimus- or paclitaxel-eluting stents |
| Second generation Nonbiodegradable (ie, durable) polymer-based thin strut “Limus”-eluting stent (eliminated paclitaxel) |
| Third generation Biodegradable polymer-based thick or thin strut “Limus”-eluting stent |
| Third generation “B” |
| Polymer-free strut “Limus”-eluting stents |
| Fourth generation |
| Bioresorbable, thick/thin strut “Limus”-eluting vascular scaffolds (PLLA or magnesium) |
“Limus” drugs: biolimus, everolimus, myolimus, novolimus, sirolimus, zotarolimus.
PLLA = poly-L-lactic acid