Coronary stent

• US 20070055361A1
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rbkpark LLC
• Original Assignee: Rbkpark LLC
• Inventors: Park, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,632,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.350
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/856 Single tubular stent with a side portal passage

Abstract

In an embodiment, a stent is provided for use in blood vessels with blockage near or in a bifurcation. The stent includes a side aperture. The stent is inserted into one of the daughter branches of the bifurcation and positioned with the use of markers. The stent is then expanded so as to support the wall of the blood vessel while allowing the blood to continue to flow to both daughter branches.

Claims

1. A stent for supporting a wall of a blood vessel comprising:

a cylinder wall, the cylinder wall having a circumference;

a side aperture in the cylinder wall, the side aperture having a centerline; and

a marker provided on the cylinder wall, the marker aligned with the side aperture.

2. The stent of claim 1, wherein the marker is a line extending a portion of distance around the circumference of the cylinder wall and the marker is directly aligned with the centerline of the side aperture.

3. The stent of claim 1, wherein the marker is a first marker, the stent further comprising a second marker aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder wall.

4. The stent of claim 3, wherein the first marker and the second marker are substantially perpendicular to each other.

5. The stent of claim 1, wherein cylinder wall includes a wall structure, the wall structure selected from the group consisting of a mesh design, a coil spring design and a slotted tube design.

6. The stent of claim 1, wherein the cylinder wall is self-expanding.

7. A method for supporting a wall in a junction of a blood vessel, the junction comprising a main branch, a first branch and a second branch, the method comprising:

(a) inserting a stent with a side aperture into the junction, the stent extending into the main branch and the first branch, the stent including a marker aligned with the side aperture;

(b) aligning the marker with the second branch of the junction; and

(c) expanding the stent so as to support the wall of the blood vessel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the main branch is the left main, wherein the first branch is one of either the left anterior descending artery or the left circumflex artery and the second branch is the other of the left anterior descending artery or the left circumflex artery.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the marker is aligned with a centerline of the side aperture.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the marker extends along a circumferential portion of the stent such that an angular orientation and a rotational orientation of the stent may be determined.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the marker is a first marker and the stent includes a second marker, wherein the inserting of (a) comprises:

(i) aligning the second marker with the first branch; and

(ii) positioning the stent so that it extends into the first branch.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the aligning of (b) comprises:

(i) determining the position of the stent based on the orientation of the first marker and the second marker so as to effectively align the side aperture with the second branch.

13. A method of supporting a wall of a left coronary artery near a junction, the junction comprising a main branch joining a first branch and a second branch, the main branch feeding the first and second branch, the method comprising:

(a) positioning a stent with a side aperture in the junction of the left coronary artery; and

(b) expanding the stent so as to support the wall of the main branch and the first branch, whereby the side aperture allows the main branch to continue to feed both the first and the second branch.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the positioning in (a) comprises:

(i) inserting a guide wire into the coronary; and

(ii) inserting a balloon over the guide wire into the bifurcation of the coronary, the stent positioned on the outside of the balloon.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the expanding in (b) comprises:

(i) expanding the balloon.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the expanding in (b) comprises:

(i) allowing the stent to self-expand.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the stent includes a marker, the marker being aligned with the side aperture, wherein the positioning in (a) comprises:

(i) inserting a portion of the stent in the first branch; and

(ii) aligning the marker with the second branch.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the marker extends along a radial portion of the stent and the aligning in (ii) comprises:

(1) determining the angular orientation of the stent with the marker; and

(2) adjusting the angular orientation of the stent so as to effectively align the side aperture with the second branch.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the second marker extends along a radial portion of the stent and the aligning in (ii) comprises:

(1) determining the rotational orientation of the stent with the second marker; and

(2) adjusting the rotational orientation of the stent so as to align the side aperture with the second branch.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the stent is a first stent, the method further comprising:

(c) positioning a second stent in the side aperture of the first stent; and

(d) expanding the second stent, whereby the first and second stent form a Y shaped support structure.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the stent is a first stent and includes a proximal end and a distal end, the method further comprising:

(c) positioning a second stent in the coronary so that a portion of the second stent overlaps with the proximal end of the first stent; and

(d) expanding the second stent, whereby the first and second stent form an elongated support structure.

22. A system for use in supporting a blood vessel wall, comprising:

an angioplasty balloon;

an expandable stent mounted on the balloon, the stent including a longitudinal axis, a circumference, a distal end and a proximal end;

a side aperture in the stent; and

a marker aligned with the side aperture.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the marker is aligned with a center of the side aperture.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the marker is positioned along a portion of the circumference of the stent.

24. The system of 22, wherein the stent is a mesh type design and the stent is coated with an anti-neointimal proliferation agent.

25. The system of 22, wherein the balloon is non-compliant.