San Antonio (Nov. 4, 2003) – The world’s most successful medical device, the Palmaz Stent®, was part of a special presentation this fall at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
Conceived by Julio C. Palmaz, M.D., nearly two decades ago at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, the Palmaz Stent® was the first stent in U.S. history to receive Food and Drug Administration approval for use in treating diseased coronary and peripheral blood vessels. Today more than 2 million stents are placed in patients annually.
Curators and museum specialists discussed the Palmaz Stent® and other items from the Smithsonian’s Latino history collections, including Roberto Clemente’s baseball uniform and batting helmet and a costume worn by Chita Rivera in The Kiss of the Spiderwoman. The special presentation celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month at the Smithsonian.
Dr. Palmaz is a professor of radiology at the Health Science Center.