| 摘要 |
In accordance with the present invention, a novel composite prosthesis comprises a vein (26) and a cylindrical-shaped member (50). The vein is a vein segment removed from a patient and the cylindrical-shaped member, preferably an expandable stent (50), is glued, sutured, or in some other fashion affixed to the outside surface of the vein (26). <??>The vein segment of the combination is referred to as a vein graft or vein implant to distinguish it from the vascular structure into which it is inserted as a part of the combination. This composite prosthesis is then introduced inside a body passageway, such as diseased arterial segment or inside a saphenous vein graft segment which by-passes an arterial segment. It may be introduced by placement over a balloon catheter (72,74). When the balloon (74) is inflated, the stent (50) and the vein graft (26) expand. <??>The stent prevents recoil and keeps the vein graft tissue in place, while the vein graft forms a new inner lining for the vessel. It is preferred that the vein graft portion of the composite prosthesis be the patient's own vein. <IMAGE> |
