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Figure 2 Ultrastructural examination of the stent surface. Pre-mounted balloon-expandable 16-mm NIR stents were expanded ex-vivo under sterile conditions as untouched, handled, and rinsed and evaluated by scanning electron microscope. Variable amounts of surface contaminants were visualized in untouched stents (A, B, C), and abundant and diffuse surface foreign materials (likely powder from the gloves) were seen in handled stents (D, E, F). After rinsing with high pressure most contaminants were eliminated from the stent surface, which had a smoother appearance (G, H, I).