The Translumina Yukon Choice PC drug-eluting stent, coated with Rapamycin (Sirolimus) and the biodegradable component polylactide (PLA), has an excellent history of pre-clinical and long-term clinical results.[1-10]

In two independent trials ISARTEST 3 and ISAR-TEST 4 the Yukon Choice PC showed improved long-term performance compared to 1st. Generation DES over a time period of 10 years clinical follow-up in the randomized controlled clinical trial.[3,4]

Clinical data, published by G.Stefanini et al [5], show the excellent long-term outcome of the Yukon Choice PC in a meta- analysis, comparing the clinical outcome after 4 years in more than 4000 patients with the Cypher stent. This analysis shows for the first time that the definite Very Late Stent Thrombosis (VLST) can be reduced statistically significant by using the bio- degra dable PLA polymer coating technology of the Yukon Choice PC.

An additional sub-group analysis shows also benefit in difficult patient groups like diabetics and patients with acute myocardial infarkt. [6,7]

Due to this excellent clinical outcome the Yukon Choice PC is recommended by the latest ESC guidelines for myocardial revascularization.[8]

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Product Brochure

Better Endothelialisation & Superior Strut Coverage

Drug polymer matrix coated only on the abluminal side using patented stent coating technology for drug release only to target tissue

No polymer on the luminal side ensures healthy endothelialisation and reduces the incidence of stent thrombosis

World's Longest Studied Drug Eluting Stent

In this long term analysis at 10 years in patients with Acute Coronary Syndome (ACS), Yukon Choice PC demonstrated significantly lower POCE frequency compared with PP-DES. 

In this long term analysis at 10 years showed that Yukon choice PC is equivalent to PP-EES in Diabetic Patients

At 10 years, Yukon Choice pc showed equivalence in terms of MACE rate, Mortality and TLR rate compared to Xience and a superiority over Cypher for the same outcomes… 

Yukon Choice pc showed the lowest rate of definite or probable stent thrombosis with a significant risk reduction than the Cypher stent (50% reduction) and a numerically lower rate as than the ‘Xience’ stent (29% reduction).

Yukon Choice pc is recommended by ESC guidelines 2018 on the basis of large randomized trials where primary end points were achieved…

Yukon Choice pc showed equivalent efficacy & better safety in terms of stent thrombosis compared to Xience & Cypher at 5 years follow up…

At four years follow up, Yukon Choice pc demonstrated reduced rates in stent thrombosis in patients with diabetes mellitus as compared to durable polymer…

At four years follow up, Yukon Choice pc shows reduction of risk by 50% in Definite Stent Thrombosis & by 78% in Very Late stent thrombosis as compared to the first generation DES with similar efficacy…

At 3 years, Yukon Choice pc proved equivalance to Xience in terms of Late loss, TLR and Primary Composite MACE…

In Pre-clinical trial, it was seen that Yukon Choice pc with microporous surface reduced the amount of polymeric load to 1/4th and is assured with consistent kinetics & low inflammation…

At 2 years, the microporous surface was found to be equally safe as compared to the electropolished surface. Rough surfaces showed lesser restenosis rates…

Figure 1: Optical and Electron Microscope Pictures of the Yukon Choice PC. The unique microporous stent surface is coated abluminal with Sirolimus and PLA. The PLA ensures a better binding of the Sirolimus to the microporous stent surface and controls the release of the drug. The PLA is fully degradable according to the Krebs cycle.

Figure 2: OCT follow-up 3 years after implantation of a Yukon Choice PC.

Published Pre-clinical and BMS Data[1-2]

Extensive pre-clinical evaluations prove the safety of Yukon Choice PC over BMS and conventional DES:

Yukon Choice PC shows a release of sirolimus up to 4 weeks with a significant tissue concentration in the arterial segments.

The microporous surface shows a trend towards a reduced rate of binary restenosis with equivalent safety, which proves that it is safe and feasible to use as a drug reservoir for a DES.

Comparison of smoot (electropolished) stent surface (A) and rough (microstructured) stent surface (B). Magnification, 500x

Meta-Analysis Data and ESC Recommendation[5-8]

One of the largest meta-analysis involving more than 4000 patients, which compared biodegradable polymer based DES with permanent polymer based DES demonstrated the long term excellent safety profile of the Yukon Choice PC up to 4 years

At 4 years follow-up, the Yukon Choice PC shows a reduction of risk by 50% in definite Stent Thrombosis and by 78% in Very Late Stent Thrombosis (VLST) compared to First Generation DES without compromising on efficacy. 

Additionally, the Yukon Choice PC achieved highest recommendations in the latest ESC Guidelines for myocardial revascularization (2018) due to the excellent clinical outcome.

Excellent 5 and 10 year long-term clinical data[9-10]

The final 10 year long-term clinical follow-up of the ISAR-TEST 4 randomized controlled clinical trial showed excellent safety and efficacy data for the Yukon Choice PC when compared with the Cypher and Xience V stent. The definite and probable stent thrombosis was only 1,8% for the Yukon compared to 2,5% and 3,7% for the 2 permanent polymer coated competitor DES.

ARC definite or probable stent thrombosis

The new stent delivery system

The designed luer

The transparent luer has a positive, tactile feel assisting in navigation of the system. It is designed with an integrated protection to minimize any kinking.

The distal shaft

High performance shaft provides excellent pushability and kink resistance. This feature allows for high manoeuvrability.

bifurcation lesions
The flexible tip

The soft tip material combined with an improved robust segment ensures perfect crossability and trackability. This feature allows easy access to all lesions.

SEM of the microporousstent surface

Stent features
Unique stent surface

The micro-porous stent surface, called PEARL Surface, favours better endothelialisation, which is essential for avoiding thrombosis and restenosis.

Stent design
• homogeneous expansion
• increased radial force
• good side branch access
Low stent profile
• flexible and deliverable
• strut thickness of 87µm in the range of CoCr platforms

Technical specifications of the stent

Product matrix / Ordering information

Small vessel design (SV)

Medium vessel design (MV)

Compliance chart

Relevant literature of the Yukon DES product family
1. YUKON Animal study: K.Steigerwald et al, Biomaterials, 2009; 4, 632-637.
2. Microporous Stent BMS study: Dibra et al, Cath. Cardiovasc. Interv., 2005; 65, 374-380.
3. ISAR-TEST 4 trial, 1 year data (comparison with Cypher / Xience V): R.Byrne et al, European Heart Journal, 2009 ; 30, 2441-2449.
4. ISAR-TEST 4 trial, 3 year data (comparison with Cypher / Xience V): R.Byrne et al, JACC, 2011 ; 58, 1325-1331.
5. Meta-Analysis ISAR-TEST 3 + 4, LEADERS, 4 years follow-up (Comparison of Yukon Choice PC + Biomatrix versus Cypher): G.Stefanini, European Heart Journal, 2012; 33, 1214-1222.
6. Subgroup-Analysis of the Meta-Analysis with regard to Diabetics: A. de Waha et al, International Journal of Cardiology 2013, 168, 5162-6
7. Subgroup-Analysis of the Meta-Analysis with regard to STEMI patients: A. de Waha et al, Euro-Intervention 2014, published online.
8. F.-J. Neumann et al., 2018 ESC/EACTS Guidelines on Myocardial Revascularization, European Heart Journal (2018) 00, 1–96 and supplement.
9. S.Kufner et al, 5-year long-term follow-up of the ISAR-TEST 4 trial (Yukon Choice PC versus Cypher / Xience V), EuroIntervention 2016; 11:1372-1379.
10. S.Kufner et al, 10-year long-term follow-up of the ISAR-TEST 4 trial (Yukon Choice PC versus Cypher / Xience V), Circulation, 2018; 139, 325–333.
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