Method of maintaining patency of opening in third ventricle floor

• US 7,530,963 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2003
• Issued: 05/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (University of Wisconsin System)
• Original Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (University of Wisconsin System)
• Inventors: Albright, A. Leland
• Primary Examiner(s): SWEET, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US10/424,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20040211433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,210 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 604/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/11 for performing anastomosis; Buttons for anastomosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00575 for closure at remote site, e.g. closing atrial septum defects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00592 Elastic or resilient implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00597 Implements comprising a membrane
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00606 Implements H-shaped in cross-section, i.e. with occluders on both sides of the opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00619 Locking means for locking the implement in expanded state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1107 for blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1139 Side-to-side connections, e.g. shunt or X-connections

Abstract

A method of maintaining the patency of an opening in a floor of a third ventricle includes forming the opening is the floor of the third ventricle. A stent is inserted into the opening and the stent is deployed into the opening. The stent becomes engaged with the floor and prevents the opening from closing.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

forming a burr hole in a skull;

inserting a probe through the burr hole to the third ventricle of the brain;

generating an opening through the floor of the third ventricle with the probe;

inserting a stent supported by the probe into the opening in the floor of the third ventricle, and deploying said stent within the opening, wherein said stent prevents said opening from closing.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming said opening is said floor of said third ventricle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said floor separates a first region from a second region.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said stent has expanded ends which engage said stent with said floor.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said expanded ends of said stent prevent said stent from being disengaged from said floor.