Stent system, deployment apparatus and method for bifurcated lesion

摘要

A deployment apparatus and method for deploying one or more stents to a bifurcated vessel is provided. The invention is particularly suited for T-type bifurcated vessels where a side branch extends from a main branch. The deployment apparatus has a primary inflatable portion for engagement within the main branch and a secondary inflatable portion for engagement within the side branch. A main stent is arranged on the primary inflatable portion and radially expanded within the main branch while the secondary inflatable portion maintains registration with the side branch. A side branch stent is then arranged on the secondary inflatable portion and expanded within the side branch while the primary inflatable portion maintains registration with the expanded main stent. A bifurcated stent system suitable for bifurcated lesions is also provided comprising a side branch stent with a shaped end designed to engage a similarly shaped side opening in a main stent.

主权项

1. A stent system and an inflatable apparatus for deploying the stent system in a bifurcated vessel having a main branch from which a side branch extends therefrom, said inflatable apparatus comprising:
a primary inflatable portion having proximal and distal ends, and a secondary inflatable portion extending away from a region between said proximal and distal ends of said primary inflatable portion; said primary inflatable portion positionable within said main branch and said secondary inflatable portion positionable within said side branch such that when said primary and secondary inflatable portions are inflated, said primary inflatable portion expands radially in said main branch while said secondary inflatable portion maintains registration with said side branch by expanding radially therein; said stent system comprising: a first radially-expandable stent positionable on said primary inflatable portion, wherein when said primary inflatable portion is inflated, said first stent radially expands within said main branch, said first radially-expandable stent comprising a side opening through which said secondary inflatable portion extends; and a second radially-expandable stent positionable on said secondary inflatable portion, wherein when said secondary inflatable portion is inflated, said second stent radially expands, said second stent having a proximal and distal end and said proximal end being shaped to complement a shape of said opening of said first stent upon expansion; said second stent further comprising an expandable alignment brace extending from said proximal end of said second stent and positionable within said opening of said first stent for orienting a shaped proximal end of said second stent with said opening of said first stent and for maintaining registration of said shaped end and said opening upon expansion, said alignment brace being adapted to have said primary inflatable portion extend therethrough, so that when said primary and secondary inflatable portions are inflated, said primary inflatable portion expands said alignment brace within an internal circumference of said first stent and aligns said second stent's shaped end with said opening of said first stent.