Angioplasty stent
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use in maintaining an opening within a vessel, said apparatus comprising a stent having a wall expandable from a first position providing a collapsed diameter of said stent, and a second position providing an expanded diameter of said stent, a catheter assembly receivable within the vessel, said stent configured to be carried on a first catheter, said catheter assembly including said first catheter for carrying said stent, and a second catheter disposed within said first catheter and coaxial with said first catheter, said second catheter including a inflatable balloon which is inflated while said catheter is within the vessel, whereby said first catheter carries said stent adjacent to said balloon so that said stent can be placed over said balloon, said balloon is inflated to open said stent to said expanded diameter such that said stent is left in place in the vessel, after said balloon performs angioplasty.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A prosthesis for use in preventing re-stenosis after angioplasty is formed of plastic or sheet metal, and is expandable and contractible for placement. The prosthesis can be inserted while in a collapsed position, then expanded and locked at the larger diameter. Spring force can be provided by the material itself, or metal springs can be embedded within the walls of the prosthesis. Preferably, the walls have holes therethrough to promote tissue growth; and, in one embodiment, the holes are in the form of slots so that the prosthesis is segmented and can bend longitudinally.
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Citations
5 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for use in maintaining an opening within a vessel, said apparatus comprising a stent having a wall expandable from a first position providing a collapsed diameter of said stent, and a second position providing an expanded diameter of said stent, a catheter assembly receivable within the vessel, said stent configured to be carried on a first catheter, said catheter assembly including said first catheter for carrying said stent, and a second catheter disposed within said first catheter and coaxial with said first catheter, said second catheter including a inflatable balloon which is inflated while said catheter is within the vessel, whereby said first catheter carries said stent adjacent to said balloon so that said stent can be placed over said balloon, said balloon is inflated to open said stent to said expanded diameter such that said stent is left in place in the vessel, after said balloon performs angioplasty.
Specification