IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,858,609
Granted Patent B2
US 8,858,609 · App. 12/367,019 · Granted Oct 14, 2014

Stent delivery under direct visualization

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,858,609
App. No.
12/367,019
Filed
Feb 6, 2009
Granted
Oct 14, 2014
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3731
USPC
623/1.11
Abstract

Stent delivery under direct visualization utilizing an imaging hood is described herein. A stent may be delivered and placed in or around lesions, e.g., ostial lesions, through a delivery catheter while being directly visualized via an imaging hood. A pre-delivery assessment probe may also be advanced to the desired site for accurate placement of the stent.

Claims (14)

1. A method of deploying a stent under direct visualization, comprising:

intravascularly advancing a reconfigurable hood structure having a distal end in a low-profile configuration into proximity to a vessel opening;

reconfiguring the hood structure into a deployed configuration which defines an open area bounded at least in part by the hood structure and by a membrane extending across the hood structure distal end, wherein the open area is in fluid communication with an environment external to the hood structure via an aperture in the membrane;

positioning the open area over the vessel opening;

purging blood from the open area by introducing a clearing fluid through the open area of the hood structure and into the environment;

positioning a stent through the open area into proximity to a lesion along the vessel while visualizing the stent through the clearing fluid; and expanding the stent to contact the lesion along the vessel.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising visualizing the vessel within the open area through the clearing fluid.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning a stent comprises advancing the stent upon an inflatable balloon member.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein expanding the stent comprises inflating the balloon member into contact against the lesion.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising measuring a length of the lesion prior to positioning a stent through the open area.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising measuring a diameter of the vessel prior to positioning a stent through the open area.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising visually inspecting the stent expanded against the lesion.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning the open area over the vessel opening includes positioning the open area over a vessel opening to a vessel lumen such that the hood contacts tissue adjacent to the vessel opening and external to the vessel lumen.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising visualizing the vessel lumen and the tissue adjacent to the vessel opening through the open area.