GUIDEWIRE LOADED STENT FOR DELIVERY THROUGH A CATHETER

摘要

The stent (28) delivery assembly can deliver and place a stent (28) within tortuous regions of the body which are accessible to guidewires (24, 34) but inaccessible to stenting catheters. The assembly comprises a guidewire (24, 34) covered in part by a retractable sheath (26) and a radially expandable stent (28) near or at the distal end of the guidewire (24). The whole assembly is advanced through conventional catheter (10) or it may be used alone. In either case, when the stent (28) is adjacent to a treatment site within the body, the sheath (26) is retracted proximally to expose the stent (28) for radial expansion into contact with the vessel wall. Radio-gpaque marker (30, 32) bands are optionally located on either side or both sides of the stent (28) on the guidewire (24, 34) body to aid in visual placement. The assembly can optionally include an expandable balloon (36) on the guidewire (24, 34) for different treatment modalities.