Catheter system for stenting and drug treatment of bifurcated vessels

摘要

A catheter system and method are described for stenting a vessel at a bifurcation or sidebranch of the vessel. The catheter system includes a first balloon catheter, a second balloon catheter and a releasable linking device for holding the first and second balloon catheters arranged in a side-by-side configuration and aligned with one another along a longitudinal axis so that the catheter system can be advanced as a unit. The catheter system is combined with drug eluting technology to prevent restenosis, inflammation and/or thrombosis and/or to promote reendothelialization in the vessel bifurcation. The main vessel stent and/or the sidebranch stent may be coated or impregnated with one or more drugs or bioactive substances. Alternatively or in addition, the first balloon and/or the second balloon may be coated with or include a mechanism for delivering one or more drugs or bioactive substances to the vessel wall.

主权项

1. A catheter system comprising:
a first rapid exchange balloon dilatation catheter having a shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a proximal section of the shaft of the first rapid exchange balloon dilatation catheter is constructed of hypodermic tubing joined to a flexible distal section, and a first inflatable balloon mounted on the flexible distal section of the shaft; a second rapid exchange balloon dilatation catheter having a shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a proximal section of the shaft of the second rapid exchange balloon dilatation catheter is constructed of hypodermic tubing joined to a flexible distal section, and a second inflatable balloon mounted on the flexible distal section of the shaft; an expandable stent mounted on the first inflatable balloon; and an elongated split-tube linking device having an inner lumen and a longitudinal split through a wall of the split-tube linking device that connects the inner lumen with an exterior of the split-tube linking device and a distal pull-tab located on a side of the split-tube linking device opposite to the longitudinal split, wherein the split-tube linking device has a linked position in which the inner lumen holds the proximal sections of the first rapid exchange balloon dilatation catheter and the second rapid exchange balloon dilatation catheter together with sufficient friction that the catheter system can be advanced as a unit without any relative longitudinal movement between the first rapid exchange balloon dilatation catheter and the second rapid exchange balloon dilatation catheter and a released position in which the first rapid exchange balloon dilatation catheter and the second rapid exchange balloon dilatation catheter are released to allow longitudinal movement of the first rapid exchange balloon dilatation catheter and the second rapid exchange balloon dilatation catheter with respect to each other; wherein at least one of the stent, the first balloon or the second balloon is configured to deliver a drug or bioactive substance to a vessel wall.