Noncylindrical stent deployment system for treating vascular bifurcations
First Claim
1. A method of treating a vascular bifurcation of a main vessel into a first and a second branch vessels, comprising the steps of:
- providing a delivery catheter having a first stent thereon, the first stent having a proximal end and a distal end and being self expandable to a configuration in which the proximal end has a smaller diameter than the distal end;
positioning the catheter such that the first stent is at a treatment site within the main vessel with the distal end adjacent the bifurcation; and
deploying the first stent in the main vessel such that the distal end communicates with both the first and the second branch vessels.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for treating pathological narrowing of fluid-carrying conduits of the human body (such as blood vessels) in an area of a bifurcation is disclosed. In particular, a stent system carries a self expandable noncylindrical stent, which is particularly suited for treating a widened portion of a blood vessel immediately proximal to a bifurcation. A stent delivery system is also disclosed, for delivering the stent such that a larger expanded diameter end of the stent faces the bifurcation, and a smaller expanded diameter end of the stent faces proximally in the main vessel.
237 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of treating a vascular bifurcation of a main vessel into a first and a second branch vessels, comprising the steps of:
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providing a delivery catheter having a first stent thereon, the first stent having a proximal end and a distal end and being self expandable to a configuration in which the proximal end has a smaller diameter than the distal end;
positioning the catheter such that the first stent is at a treatment site within the main vessel with the distal end adjacent the bifurcation; and
deploying the first stent in the main vessel such that the distal end communicates with both the first and the second branch vessels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A deployment system for treating a bifurcation of a main vessel and a first and second branch vessels, comprising:
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an elongate, flexible body, having a proximal end and a distal end;
a first stent carried by the distal end of the body; and
a releasable restraint, for retaining the stent on the flexible body;
wherein the distal end of the stent is larger in diameter than the proximal end of the stent in an unconstrained expanded configuration. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of treating a vascular bifurcation of a main vessel into first and second branch vessels, comprising the steps of:
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deploying a substantially cylindrical stent in a first branch vessel which is distal to the bifurcation; and
deploying a tapered stent in the main vessel, proximal to the bifurcation;
wherein the tapered stent tapers in the distal direction from a smaller proximal diameter to a larger distal diameter which faces the bifurcation. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A stent deployment catheter, comprising:
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an elongate, flexible tubular body, having a proximal end and a distal end;
a noncylindrical, self expandable stent carried by the distal end;
a handpiece on the proximal end;
a control on the handpiece, having a first position for indicating partial deployment of the stent, and a second position indicating complete deployment of the stent. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method of treating a bifurcation of a main vessel into first and second branch vessels, comprising the steps of:
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providing a catheter having a tapered stent thereon;
positioning the catheter in the vicinity of the bifurcation;
partially deploying the stent into a vessel;
introducing contrast media to permit visualization of the stent; and
completely deploying the stent into the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification