stent

noun

ˈstent 

: a short narrow metal or plastic tube often in the form of a mesh that is inserted into the lumen of an anatomical vessel (such as an artery or a bile duct) especially to keep a previously blocked passageway open

Examples of stent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For Braxton, the loss was especially profound—and compounded by her own health battles, including her ongoing fight with lupus and the recent placement of a stent in her heart to prevent a potentially fatal heart attack. —Shelby Stewart, Essence, 29 Oct. 2024

Instead of surgery, the size of the stent can be adjusted with a minimally invasive procedure through a blood vessel in the groin. —Jessica Herzberg, NBC News, 17 Oct. 2024

Consider biomedical researchers who, inspired by the Japanese art of origami, developed foldable medical devices like heart stents that can expand once inserted, enabling less invasive surgery. —Jessica Billingsley, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2024

Instead, Synchron deploys a self-expanding stent with electrodes embedded in it to the brain's surface via the jugular vein. —New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Charles Thomas Stent †1885 English dentist

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

stent

noun

ˈstent 

variants also stint

ˈstint 

1

: a mold formed from a resinous compound and used for holding a surgical graft in place

also : something (as a pad of gauze immobilized by sutures) used like a stent

2

: a short narrow metal or plastic tube often in the form of a mesh that is inserted into the lumen of an anatomical vessel (as an artery or bile duct) especially to keep a previously blocked passageway open