Customized material for improved radiopacity
View Patent ↗A method for obtaining diagnostic information about a region of a living being, the region having a medical device with a radiopaque portion disposed therein. An X-ray beam having a first energy level in excess of the K-absorption edge of the radiopaque portion of the medical device is directed at the region to obtain a first image information and radiographically locate the medical device within the living being and an X-ray beam having second energy level at or below the K-absorption edge is applied to the region to obtain a second image information.
1. A method of obtaining diagnostic information about a region of a living being, the region having a medical device disposed therein, the medical device including a radiopaque portion which is characterized by a K-absorption edge, the method comprising the steps of:
a) applying to the region an X-ray beam having a first energy level in excess of the K-absorption edge of the radiopaque portion of the medical device to obtain a first image information and radiographically locate the medical device within the living being; and
b) applying to the region an X-ray beam having second energy level at or below the K-absorption edge to obtain a second image information.
2. The method claim 1 , wherein the radiopaque portion comprises a radiopaque metal.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the radiopaque metal comprises one or more metals selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum and tantalum.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the radiopaque metal is an alloy comprising at least 10% tungsten by weight.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the radiopaque metal is L-605.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the medical device is a stent.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the radiopaque portion comprises a radiopaque metal.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein step a) is performed prior to step b).
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the stent is located in a bodily vessel and the vessel is restenosed in the region.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second image information contains information concerning the flow of a bodily fluid through the medical device.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein step b) is performed prior to step a).
12. The method of claim 6 , wherein the entirety of the stent is radiopaque.
13. The method of claim 6 , where only the first and/or seconds of the stent are radiopaque.
14. The method of claim 6 , wherein the stent includes an opening for side branch access, the stent including a radiopaque section disposed about the opening.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second energy levels are chosen such that the attenuation of the X-ray beam having the first energy level by the radiopaque portion is at least three times greater than the attenuation of the X-ray beam having the second energy level by the radiopaque portion.