Procedures for vascular occlusion
A method of reducing blood flow within an aneurysm includes: injecting a contrast agent into a blood vessel including an aneurysm; deploying an occlusion device across the aneurysm; producing an image of the aneurysm including the contrast agent; and withdrawing the delivery device from the vessel after observing that the aneurysm has been obstructed by a desired amount. The image may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional. Observing that the aneurysm has been obstructed may include determining a degree of obstruction, for example by comparing an area or volume of the contrast agent in a first image and a second image. The desired amount may be a certain degree of obstruction, identification of a shape indicative of stasis such as a flat surface, an approximate hemisphere, a mushroom, or a crescent. If the occlusion device does not achieve the desired amount, a second occluding device may be deployed.
1. A method of reducing blood flow within an aneurysm, the method comprising:
injecting a contrast agent into a blood vessel comprising an aneurysm;
expanding a stent, from a delivery device, across the aneurysm, such that a thrombus forms in the aneurysm;
producing an image of the aneurysm including the contrast agent;
observing on the image that the thrombus forms a crescent shape; and
while the thrombus is in the crescent shape, withdrawing the delivery device from the vessel.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein, after withdrawing the delivery device, substantially all of the aneurysm progressively thromboses.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the observing is sufficient to determine that the expanding the stent is sufficient to lead to thrombosis of the aneurysm.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the observing comprises observing that the thrombus fills less than 70% of a volume of the aneurysm.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the observing comprises observing that the thrombus fills between about 20% and about 70% of a volume of the aneurysm.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the observing comprises observing that the thrombus fills between about 50% and about 70% of a volume of the aneurysm.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the observing comprises comparing a first image of the aneurysm before expanding the stent to a second image of the aneurysm after expanding the stent.
8. A method of reducing blood flow within an aneurysm, the method comprising:
expanding a stent, from a delivery device, across an aneurysm of a blood vessel, whereby a thrombus forms into a crescent shape in the aneurysm;
injecting a contrast agent into the blood vessel, at least a portion of the contrast agent flowing into the aneurysm;
producing at least one image of the aneurysm including the thrombus; and
withdrawing the delivery device from the vessel when the thrombus in the at least one image is in the crescent shape.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the observing is sufficient to determine that the expanding the stent is sufficient to lead to thrombosis of the aneurysm.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the thrombus fills less than 70% of a volume of the aneurysm when the delivery device is withdrawn from the vessel.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the thrombus fills between about 20% and about 70% of a volume of the aneurysm when the delivery device is withdrawn from the vessel.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the thrombus fills about 50% and about 70% of a volume of the aneurysm when the delivery device is withdrawn from the vessel.
13. A method of reducing blood flow within an aneurysm, the method comprising:
expanding a stent, from a delivery system, across the aneurysm;
injecting a contrast agent into a blood vessel comprising the aneurysm;
producing an image of the aneurysm including the contrast agent; and
withdrawing the delivery system from the vessel when the aneurysm has thrombosed by less than 70% of a volume of a body of the aneurysm, forming a crescent shape as viewed on the image;
wherein, after withdrawing the delivery device, substantially all of the body progressively thromboses.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising withdrawing the stent from the vessel if the aneurysm does not thrombose by less than 70% of the volume of the body.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein withdrawing the delivery device from the vessel comprises releasing the stent from the delivery device.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein, when the aneurysm has thrombosed by less than 70%, the crescent shape comprises a thrombus in a persistent shape.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the persistent shape comprises at least one of a flat surface, an approximate hemisphere, and a mushroom.
18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising expanding a second stent across the aneurysm.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein expanding the second stent comprises expanding the second stent at least partially within the stent.