Importance

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Abstract

An endolumenal medical device assembly is provided for use in a bifurcation region of a body lumen. An expandable prosthesis, preferably an endolumenal support device such as a stent, is included in the assembly and is adjustable from a radially collapsed condition to a radially expanded condition. The expandable prosthesis further includes a prosthesis passageway and a side port through which the prosthesis passageway communicates externally of the prosthesis. A dilator or an access device is engaged within the prosthesis passageway and also through the side port while the expandable prosthesis is in the radially collapsed condition. By coupling a guidewire to an access device engaged within the side port and positioning the guidewire therein, the expandable prosthesis may be positioned in the bifurcation region such that its distal end portion is in a first branch lumen extending from the bifurcation, its proximal end portion is in a common proximal lumen of the bifurcation region, and the side port is aligned with an entrance zone to a second branch lumen extending from the bifurcation. When the expandable prosthesis is positioned at the bifurcation region in this orientation, the access device maintains percutaneous translumenal access to the second branch lumen through the prosthesis passageway and the side port while the expandable prosthesis is adjusted from the radially collapsed condition to the radially expanded condition. In addition, a dilator when engaged within the side port is adapted to expand the bore formed by the side port from an initial inner diameter to a larger expanded inner diameter. A second, lateral expandable prosthesis can also be coupled to the first expandable prosthesis at a location adjacent to the side port such that the dilator or access device extending through the side port is engaged within a lateral prosthesis lumen, extending through the lateral expandable prosthesis.

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First Claim