Method for treating a body lumen
A method for treating a body conduit/lumen having an undesired reduced diameter includes determining a target diameter of the conduit/lumen in a target location of the conduit/lumen, and delivering a self-expanding metal stent in a contracted configuration to the target location. In a fully expanded configuration, the stent has a diameter that is more than 50% larger than the target diameter over an entire length of the self-expanding stent.
1. A method for the treatment of a body lumen, comprising:
determining a target diameter of said lumen in a target location in said lumen, said target diameter closely approximating a natural diameter of the lumen at the target location, the natural diameter being a diameter of the lumen unobstructed by plaque or other occlusions at the target location;
delivering a self-expanding metal stent in a contracted configuration to said target location, wherein said self-expanding metal stent, in a fully self-expanded configuration, has a diameter that is more than 55% larger than said target diameter over an entire length of said self-expanding metal stent; and
allowing the self-expanding metal stent to self-expand at said target location.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said self-expanding stent is configured to exert a substantially constant radially outward force over substantially a full range of expansion of said stent.
3. The method of claim 1 , comprising determining said target diameter based on a diameter of said body lumen at a location upstream of said target location.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said lumen is part of a branching system of lumens, comprising determining said target diameter based on a diameter of at least one parallel branch of said branching system of lumens.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said branching system is a coronary tree.
6. The method of claim 1 , comprising treating an obstruction of said lumen at said target location before delivering said self-expanding stent to said target location.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein treating said obstruction comprises supplying a thrombolytic agent to said target location prior to delivering said self-expanding stent to said target location.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein treating said obstruction comprises supplying an anti-spastic agent to said target location prior to delivering said self-expanding stent to said target location.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein treating said obstruction comprises mechanical treatment of said obstruction.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said mechanical treatment comprises deoccluding said obstruction with a percutaneous de-occluding tool.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said mechanical treatment comprises debulking said obstruction with a percutaneous de-bulking tool.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein said mechanical treatment comprises performing balloon angioplasty at said obstruction.
13. The method of claim 6 , wherein treating said obstruction comprises aspiration of a thrombus.
14. The method of claim 6 , wherein treating said obstruction comprises laser treatment of said obstruction.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein said self-expanding stent, in a fully self-expanded configuration, has a diameter that is more than 60% larger than said target diameter over an entire length of said self-expanding stent.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein said self-expanding stent, in a fully self-expanded configuration, has a diameter that is more than 65% larger than said target diameter over an entire length of said self-expanding stent.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein said self-expanding stent, in a fully self-expanded configuration, has a diameter that is more than 70% larger than said target diameter over an entire length of said self-expanding stent.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein said self-expanding stent, in a fully self-expanded configuration, has a diameter that is more than 75% larger than said target diameter over an entire length of said self-expanding stent.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein said self-expanding stent, in a fully self-expanded configuration, has a diameter that is more than 80% larger than said target diameter over an entire length of said self-expanding stent.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein said self-expanding stent, in a fully self-expanded configuration, has a diameter that is up to 150% larger than said target diameter over an entire length of said self-expanding stent.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein said body lumen is a blood vessel.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein said target location is a site of an undesired reduced diameter of said blood vessel.
23. The method of claim 21 , wherein said target location is a site of a contractile spasm of said blood vessel.
24. The method of claim 21 , wherein said target location is a site of a thrombus located in said blood vessel.
25. The method of claim 21 , wherein said target location is a site of trauma to said blood vessel.
26. The method of claim 1 , wherein said target diameter is substantially constant along a length of said target location.
27. The method of claim 1 , wherein said target location includes at least one side branch of said lumen.
28. The method of claim 27 , comprising creating an access site through a wall of said self-expanding stent to said at least one side branch during the same procedure in which said self-expanding stent is delivered to said target location.
29. The method of claim 27 , comprising creating an access site through a wall of said self-expanding stent to said at least one side branch at least 24 hours after delivering said self-expanding stent to said target location.