Patent ID: 6780174
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A method for delivering a bifurcated catheter assembly in a patient for treating a bifurcated vessel having a main vessel and a side-branch vessel, the method comprising:a. providing a bifurcated catheter assembly having i. an elongated main catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end; ii. a first catheter branch having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being connected to the distal end of the main catheter body, the first catheter branch having a first expandable member and being configured for receiving a first guide wire therethrough; iii. a second catheter branch having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being connected to the distal end of the main catheter body, the second catheter branch having a second expandable member and being configured for receiving a second guide wire therethrough; iv. a first expandable member associated with the first catheter branch; v. a second expandable member associated with the second catheter branch, wherein a Y-shaped stent is mounted on the first and second expandable members; vi. a coupler mounted on the distal end of the first catheter branch for releasably coupling the first catheter branch to the distal end of the second catheter branch; b. providing a first guide wire and a second guide wire and positioning the first guide wire within the main vessel distal to the bifurcation; c. inserting the proximal end of the second guide wire into a lumen of the second catheter branch; d. inserting the distal end of the second guide wire into the coupler; e. advancing the catheter over the first guide wire and simultaneously carrying the second guide wire in the lumen of the second branch and the distal end of the second guide wire in the coupler; f. positioning the catheter distal end distal of the bifurcation; g. withdrawing the second guide wire proximally so that the distal end of the second guide wire withdraws from the coupler thereby releasing the first expandable member from the second expandable member; h. advancing the distal end of the second guide wire distally of the catheter distal end and into the main vessel passage; i. withdrawing the catheter proximally so that the catheter distal end is proximal of the vessel bifurcation; j. advancing the first guide wire into the side-branch vessel; k. advancing the catheter over the first and the second guide wires so that at least a portion of the Y-shaped stent is positioned in the first and the second vessels; l. inflating the first and the second expandable members and simultaneously expanding and implanting the Y-shaped stent in the vessels forming the bifurcation; m. deflating the first and the second expandable members; n. withdrawing the catheter from the patient.