Table 1.

Clinically available biliary stents.

Brand	Manufacturer	Brief description	Disadvantages	Reference
WallFlex™ Biliary RX Stents	Boston scientific	1. Fully covered/partially covered/uncovered stent;	1. High incidence of epithelial hyperplasia; 2. High incidence of Cholestasis; 3. Hard to remove; 4. Not ideal for patients with benign biliary strictures.	[8]
		2. Self-expanding;
		3. Guide wire: 0.035 inch;
		4. The outer layer of the wire is nickel-titanium alloy and the inner core is platinum.
		5. The coating is Permalume™
HANAROSTENT® Biliary	OLYMPUS	1. Main material: nickel-titanium alloy		[86]
		2. Uncovered stent;
		3. Self-expanding;
		4. Guide wire: 0.025 or 0.035 inch;
		5. Hook-cross nitinol design;
		6. Large flare-ends.
Niti-S™ D Biliary Stent	Taewoong Medical	1. Main material: nickel-titanium alloy;		[87]
		2. Guide wire: 0.035 inch;
DISCOVERY BILIARY™	Endocor	1. Main material: nitinol;		[88].
		2. Guide wire: 0.035 inch;
		3. Self-expanding;
		4. Open cell design;
		5. Tantalum markers on the inner catheter.
Self-Expanding Nitinol Stents	ENDO-FLEX	1. Partially silicone coating/no coating; 2. Main material: nitinol; 3. Tantalum markers		[89]
ParaMount™ Mini GPS™	Medtronic	1. Main material: 316L stainless steel		[90]
		2. Tantalum markers;
		3. 6 F or 7 F guide catheter;
		4. Balloon-expandable;
Advanix™ Biliary Stent	Boston scientific	1. Material: polypropylene (20%BiOCl)	1. Limited sizes (diameter); 2. Need to be replaced frequently due to bile sludge accumulation; 3. Prone to cause acute cholangitis.	[91]
		2. Thin wall design
		3. Tapered stent tip
		4. RX delivery system compatible
PE 204 series	ENDO-FLEX	1. Main material: polyethylene		[92]
		2. Pigtail
Cotton-Leung® Biliary Stent	Cook Medical	1. Main material: polyethylene		[93]
		2. Guide wire: 0.035 inch;
		3. Tapered tip;
		4. Proximal and distal flaps;
		5. Gentle curved shape;