Arterial stent. Coloured angio CT (computed tomography) scan of a stent in a patient's left carotid artery. The carotid arteries supply the head and brain with blood. The stent, a wire mesh tube, is used to treat stenosis (narrowing) of the arteries. It holds the artery open, restoring normal blood flow. This is an auto- expandable stent. The most common cause of stenosis is atheroma, fatty deposits that thicken the inner coat of the arteries.
