Medical device

摘要

A stent deployment device comprises an elongate catheter shaft (2), and an inflatable balloon (3). The inflatable balloon (3) is movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. In the expanded configuration part of the longitudinal axis of the balloon (3) is curved in three-dimensional space, and part of the balloon (3) is helically shaped. A stent (6) is movable from a collapsed delivery configuration to a partially expanded intermediate configuration, and subsequently from the intermediate configuration to a fully expanded deployed configuration. In the delivery configuration the longitudinal axis of the stent (6) is straight. The longitudinal axis of the stent (6) may be straight or curved in three-dimensional space in the intermediate configuration. In the deployed configuration the longitudinal axis of the stent (6) is curved in three-dimensional space. The balloon (3) in the expanded configuration exerts force on the stent (6). In the deployed configuration the stent (6) in turn exerts force on the internal wall of a blood vessel (5) causing the longitudinal axis of the blood vessel (5) to curve in three-dimensional space.

主权项

1. A medical dilation device comprising:
a balloon for location in a blood vessel, the balloon being inflatable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, in the expanded configuration at least part of the longitudinal axis of the balloon being curved in three-dimensional space, and wherein in the expanded configuration, the balloon is configured to directly contact the internal wall of the blood vessel wherein in the expanded configuration the balloon has a periphery which is configured to exert a force on the internal wall of the blood vessel over an entire circumference of the blood vessel causing the longitudinal axis of the blood vessel to curve in three-dimensional space.