Ostial stent
An intraluminal device for placement in a side-branch vessel associated with a main vessel via an ostial region. The intraluminal device includes a stem portion and a toroidal cap portion. The stem portion of the device is placed in the side branch vessel and the toroidal cap portion is placed adjacent to the ostial region.
1 . An intraluminal stent comprising:
a stem portion, defining a lumen therethrough along a central axis, having a proximal end and a distal end and having proximal and distal openings, respectively; and
a cap portion, located at the distal end of the stem portion, the cap portion comprising a plurality of cap sections oriented substantially orthogonal to the central axis and positioned about the distal opening.
2 . The stent of claim 1 , wherein each of the stem portion and the cap portion is formed from a material having shape memory characteristics.
3 . The stent of claim 1 , wherein the cap portion is capable of being permanently deformed upon application of a force in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis.
4 . The stent of claim 1 , wherein each cap section of the cap portion has a circular cross-section.
5 . The stent of claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the stem portion is substantially unchanged along a length from the proximal end to the distal end.
6 . The stent of claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the stem portion varies along a length from the proximal end to the distal end.
7 . The stent of claim 6 wherein the outer diameter varies monotonically from the proximal end to the distal end.
8 . The stent of claim 1 , wherein the stem portion comprises a substantially tubular structure.
9 . The stent of claim 8 , wherein the stem portion comprises a spring-like structure.
10 . The stent of claim 9 , wherein the cap portion comprises a substantially toroidal shape.
11 . The stent of claim 10 , further comprising:
a medicinal coating disposed on at least one of the cap portion and the stem portion.
12 . The stent of claim 10 , wherein the stem portion and the cap portion are formed from a material having shape memory characteristics.
13 . The stent of claim 12 , wherein the stem portion and the cap portion are formed from a single continuous piece of material.
14 . A method of forming an intralumenal stent, the method comprising:
provided a substantially linear piece of material;
forming, from the material, a cylindrical stem portion, defining a lumen therethrough oriented along a central axis, the cylindrical stem portion having a proximal end and a distal end and proximal and distal openings, respectively; and
forming a cap portion at the distal end of the cylindrical stem portion, the cap portion comprising a plurality of cap sections oriented substantially orthogonal to the central axis and positioned about the distal opening.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
choosing the material to be one having shape-memory characteristics.
16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
coating at least one of the stem portion and the cap portion with a medicinal coating.
17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
forming the cap portion as a toroid.
18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
forming the stem portion to have a substantially constant outer diameter.
19 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
forming the stem portion to have an outer diameter that varies along a length from the proximal end to the distal end.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the outer diameter varies monotonically from the proximal end to the distal end.
21 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
forming each cap section to have a circular cross-section.
22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising:
forming the stem portion as a spring.
23 . A method comprising:
providing an intraluminal stent having a stem portion and a cap portion;
positioning the intraluminal stent in a patient such that the stem portion is in a side branch vessel portion and the cap portion extends into a main vessel from the side branch vessel portion; and
compressing the cap portion against an ostial region of the main vessel adjacent the side branch vessel portion.
24 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising:
inflating a balloon catheter in the main vessel to compress the cap portion.
25 . The method of claim 23 , wherein positioning the stem portion in the side branch vessel comprises:
positioning the stem portion in the side branch vessel portion via an approach from the main vessel.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein positioning the stem portion in the side branch vessel further comprises:
releasing the stent from a delivery catheter, wherein the stem portion is released prior to the cap portion.
27 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the cap portion comprises:
a plurality of cap sections oriented substantially orthogonal to a central axis of the stem portion and positioned about a diameter of the stem portion.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein:
each cap section has a substantially circular cross-section; and
the plurality of cap sections is arranged as a toroid about the diameter of the stem portion.
29 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the stent is made from a material having shape-memory characteristics.
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein at least one of the cap portion and the stem portion is coated with a medicinal coating.