METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SURGICALLY RESTORING CORONARY BLOOD VESSELS

摘要

A method for surgically restoring a coronary artery (20) having an atheroma (34) to more normal structure and function, comprises the steps of: a) making an arteriotomy incision (48) over the length of the coronary artery atheroma (34); b) spreading the cut edges of the arteriotomy incision (50); c) separating the plaque (34) from the medial interface of a vessel wall of the coronary artery (20); d) extracting the atherosclerotic plaque (34) from the coronary artery (34) and any side branch artery (22); e) inserting an endocoronary stent (10) with vessel anchor prongs (70) into the opened coronary artery (20); f) closing the coronary artery (20) over the stent (10) with sutures (60); g) applying extravascular drug delivery material (62) over the stent implantation site (50); In another feature, the extravascular drug delivery material provides a local controlled release of bioactive factors to inhibit both thrombosis and smooth muscle cell proliferation.