stent

Definition

A slender tube inserted into a blood vessel, a ureter or the oesophagus in order to provide support and to prevent disease-induced closure.

Etymology

Unclear. Possibly named after dentist Charles Stent. The English surname is a variant of Stein.

Example Sentences

• "Tiny metal sleeves placed in arteries to keep blood flowing, stents have become such a popular quick fix for clogged coronary vessels that Americans will receive more than 1.5 million of them this year."