Patent ID: 6475208
Filing Date: 2002-11-05
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 having a rapid exchange guide wire lumen extending through the first catheter branch; 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 having an over-the-wire guide wire lumen extending through the second catheter branch and the main catheter body; iv. a first expandable member associated with the first catheter branch; v. a second expandable member associated with the second catheter branch, wherein a stent is mounted on the first and second expandable members; vi. a coupler mounted on the first catheter branch for releasably coupling the first catheter branch to the second catheter branch; b. providing a first rapid exchange (Rx) guide wire and a second over-the-wire (OTW) guide wire; c. inserting the first Rx guide wire into the Rx guide wire lumen of the first catheter branch and inserting the distal end of the first Rx guide wire into the coupler; d. inserting the second OTW guide wire into the OTW guide wire lumen of the second catheter branch; e. advancing the catheter over the first Rx guide wire and simultaneously carrying the second OTW guide wire in the OTW lumen of the second catheter branch; f. advancing the first Rx guide wire into the main vessel and advancing the catheter over the first Rx guide wire thereby positioning the catheter distal end distal of the bifurcation; g. withdrawing the first Rx guide wire proximally so that the distal end of the first Rx guide wire withdraws from the coupler thereby uncoupling the first expandable member from the second expandable member; h. advancing the distal end of the second OTW guide wire distally of the catheter distal end and into the side branch vessel; i. withdrawing the catheter proximally so that the catheter distal end is proximal of the vessel bifurcation; j. advancing the catheter over the first Rx and the second OTW guide wires so that at least a portion of the stent is positioned in the first and the second vessels; k. inflating the first and the second expandable members and simultaneously expanding and implanting the stent in the vessels forming the bifurcation; l. deflating the first and the second expandable members; m. withdrawing the catheter from the patient.