Method for deploying a thermo-mechanically expandable stent
First Claim
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1. A method for deploying a stent in a body lumen, the method comprising the steps of:
- coating the stent with a radiation-absorbing material;
introducing the stent into a lumen of the body;
applying radiation from a radiation source to the radiation-absorbing material to thereby heat the stent to at least its glass transition temperature;
while the stent is at a temperature at or above its glass transition temperature, expanding the stent to a predetermined size; and
discontinuing application of radiation to the radiation-absorbing material and allowing the stent to cool to a temperature below its glass transition temperature.
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Abstract
An expandable stent for use within a body lumen that is coated with a radiation-absorbing material and that is not plastically expandable at normal body temperatures but is expandable at a temperature between about 38° C. to 60° C. following exposure to radiation. The invention also relates to a method of deploying such a stent within the body.
230 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for deploying a stent in a body lumen, the method comprising the steps of:
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coating the stent with a radiation-absorbing material;
introducing the stent into a lumen of the body;
applying radiation from a radiation source to the radiation-absorbing material to thereby heat the stent to at least its glass transition temperature;
while the stent is at a temperature at or above its glass transition temperature, expanding the stent to a predetermined size; and
discontinuing application of radiation to the radiation-absorbing material and allowing the stent to cool to a temperature below its glass transition temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for thermomechanically deploying a stent in a body lumen comprising the steps of:
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coating the stent with a radiation-absorbing material;
providing a balloon catheter, the catheter including a radiation source at a distal end, the radiation source selected to emit radiation that will be absorbed selectively by the radiation-absorbing material;
placing the stent at the distal end of catheter;
inserting the catheter and the stent into the body lumen;
heating the stent by generating radiation from the radiation source to be absorbed by the radiation-absorbing material and converted to heat, until the stent exceeds its glass transition temperature;
inflating the balloon catheter to a predetermined size, thereby expanding the stent to a predetermined size;
terminating the generation of radiation from the radiation source and allowing the stent to cool below its glass transition temperature;
deflating the balloon catheter and withdrawing it from the body lumen, leaving the expanded stent within the body lumen. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification