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 stagnated by a desired amount. The image may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional. Observing that the aneurysm has been stagnated may include determining a degree of stagnation, 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 stagnation, 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:
expanding a stent, from a delivery device, across the aneurysm, such that a stagnated area forms in the aneurysm;
injecting a contrast agent into a blood vessel comprising an aneurysm;
imaging the stagnated area; and
upon observing that the stagnated area occupies more than 30% and less than 70% of a body of the aneurysm, 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 imaging 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 stent, when expanded, has a porosity that is configured to result in a delayed thrombosis of the aneurysm.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the porosity is between about 60% and about 85%.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the withdrawing is while the stagnated area occupies more than about 50% of the body of the aneurysm.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the imaging comprises comparing a first image of the aneurysm before expanding the stent to a second image of the aneurysm after expanding the stent.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein withdrawing the delivery device from the vessel comprises releasing the stent from the delivery device.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising expanding a second stent across the aneurysm while the stagnated area does not occupy more than 30% and less than 70% of the body of the aneurysm.
10. A method of reducing blood flow within an aneurysm, the method comprising:
expanding a stent, from a delivery device, across the aneurysm, such that a stagnated area forms in the aneurysm;
injecting a contrast agent into a blood vessel comprising an aneurysm;
imaging the stagnated area; and
upon observing that the stagnated area occupies more than 20% and less than 100% of a body of the aneurysm, withdrawing the delivery device from the vessel.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein, after withdrawing the delivery device, substantially all of the aneurysm progressively thromboses.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the imaging is sufficient to determine that the expanding the stent is sufficient to lead to thrombosis of the aneurysm.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the stent, when expanded, has a porosity that is configured to result in a delayed thrombosis of the aneurysm.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the porosity is between about 60% and about 85%.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the withdrawing is while the stagnated area occupies more than 50% of the body of the aneurysm.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the withdrawing is while the stagnated area occupies more than 70% of the body of the aneurysm.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the withdrawing is while the stagnated area occupies less than 90% of the body of the aneurysm.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the withdrawing is while the stagnated area occupies less than 70% of the body of the aneurysm.
19. The method of claim 10 , wherein the imaging comprises comparing a first image of the aneurysm before expanding the stent to a second image of the aneurysm after expanding the stent.