Encapsulated radiopaque markers

摘要

A radiopaque marker that is incorporated into an implantable biocompatible device for precise imaging as the device is delivered and deployed within a body vessel. The radiopaque marker can take on a variety of forms which can be excised from a thin foil made of radiopaque metal or from an ePTFE sheet that has been coated on one or both surfaces with a radiopaque metal. The radiopaque markers, in forms such as rings, strips, disks, rectangles or spheres are encapsulated or contained within the implantable device to prevent the radiopaque metal from dissolving or escaping into the blood stream. Strategic placement of the radiopaque markers at each end of the implantable device enables the physician to fluoroscopically view its exact location prior to deployment and in subsequent follow-up examinations.