Importance

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Abstract

A temporary stent for use in retrohepatic IVC or hepatic vein injury which is capable of expanding to the appropriate size of a blood vessel without reducing preload. According to the preferred first embodiment, the stent includes an outer sheath made of a very thin, expandable and impermeable material. An internal skeleton is comprised of a plurality of axial support members. At one end the axial support members terminate collectively on an inner guide wire. At the other end the axial support members terminate collectively on an outer guide wire. In a second embodiment, a rotatable gear arrangement is provided with two shafts for selectively playing out and reeling in an expandable sheath. According to this embodiment, the stent sheath is movable between a rolled position and an unrolled position and is unrolled once delivered to the desired site. Optionally, the stent of the present invention may be fitted with probes so that the stent might demonstrate ultrasonic assessment capabilities to allow exacting implantation.

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First Claim