Patent ID: 7001409
Filing Date: 2006-02-21
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method for reducing blood pressure to which the lungs of a patient having a septal defect are exposed, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a tubular, braided flow restrictor device exhibiting an expanded state sized to span the patient's pulmonary artery and an elongated, stretched state sized to fit within a lumen of a tubular loading member; (b) assembling the flow restrictor device to a distal end of a pusher device; (c) inserting the pusher device into the lumen of a tubular loading member and drawing the flow restrictor device into the lumen of the loading member by applying a pulling force to the proximal end of the pusher device; (d) routing a guide catheter intravascularly until the distal end of the guiding catheter has entered the ostium of the pulmonary artery; (e) attaching the loading member to the guiding catheter and pushing the flow restrictor with the pusher device to a desired location in a pulmonary artery; (f) expelling the flow restrictor device from the distal end of the guiding catheter, the flow restrictor device self-expanding to its expanded state to lodge in the pulmonary artery; and (g) uncoupling the pusher device from the flow restrictor device and withdrawing the pusher device and guiding catheter form the patient's body.