Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention envisions two radiopaque marker bands located within the balloon of the balloon angioplasty catheter for balloon expandable stents, or located at a distal portion of a stent delivery catheter designed for self-expanding stents. When the balloon is expanded to its nominal diameter, the proximal marker band (of the two bands) is positioned to indicate the proximal extremity of the stent and the distal marker band is used to indicate the distal extremity of the stent. A second aspect of this invention envisions one or more radiopaque marker bands placed onto a distal portion of a stent delivery catheter with each radiopaque marker band indicating the position of a special expandable cell of the stent, which cell can be placed at the ostium of a side branch artery where that side branch enters into a main artery. The interventionalist would align such a radiopaque marker band with the ostium of the side branch prior to stent deployment. After stent deployment, the balloon of a balloon angioplasty catheter would be inserted through the special cell of the stent and into the side branch. The balloon would then be inflated to high pressure so as to open that special stent cell where the struts of that cell would otherwise block the flow of blood into that side branch.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim