Prior to the development of the cardiac stent, surgeons used balloons to clear obstructed heart vessels, but there was no way to ensure the vessels would stay open. The stent is a tiny metal scaffold that props open the formerly obstructed blood vessel and keeps it from becoming obstructed again. Surgeons who use the stent had to engage in a great deal of learning to understand its use and its value in patient care. There was nothing like the stent on the market when it first appeared. The cardiac stent is an example of a ________.
A) dynamically continuous innovation
B) nonradical innovation
C) competitive innovation
D) continuous innovation
E) discontinuous innovation

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The cardiac stent is an example of a discontinuous innovation because it represented a significant and unprecedented shift in the way that surgeons approached treating blocked heart vessels. It was a new and novel solution to a long-standing problem, and it required extensive learning and adjustment to incorporate into medical practice.

Prior to the Development of the Cardiac Stent, Surgeons Used