Importance

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Abstract

A specialized catheter is used in a method to place a stent assembly in a bifurcated vessel in an animal body, such as a human. Primary and secondary guidewires are inserted from a location external of the body through the primary vessel, the secondary guidewire being further inserted into a secondary vessel beyond a bifurcation area. The guidewires are inserted into a primary stent and catheter assembly such that the assembly can move along the guidewires to the bifurcation area where the primary stent is expanded. While retaining the secondary guidewire in the vessels, the primary catheter assembly and primary guidewire are removed, the secondary guidewire passing through specialized openings in the primary catheter. Then the secondary stent, mounted on a catheter, is passed through the primary vessel guided by the secondary guidewire, and into the secondary vessel. There, the secondary stent is expanded to form the bifurcated stent assembly in an efficient manner.

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First Claim