Patent ID: 6884258
Filing Date: 2005-04-26
Classification: A61F,A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for placing a stent having a side hole into a main vessel such that the side hole is aligned with an ostium of a branch vessel that extends from the main vessel, the method comprising: inserting a main vessel guidewire into the main vessel until a distal end of the main vessel guidewire passes beyond the ostium of the branch vessel; inserting a backup branch vessel guidewire into the main vessel until a distal end of the backup branch vessel guidewire passes into the branch vessel; positioning a catheter system over the main vessel guidewire, the catheter system comprising a catheter body having a main vessel guidewire lumen and a branch vessel guidewire lumen, and a side member operably coupled to the catheter body, wherein the branch vessel guidewire lumen continues through the side member, wherein the catheter body includes at least one marker and the side member includes at least one marker, wherein the catheter body further includes a balloon with the stent being disposed over the balloon, wherein the side member extends into the stent and exits the stent through the side hole, and wherein the main vessel guidewire extends through the main vessel guidewire lumen; advancing the catheter system over the main vessel guidewire until a distal end of the catheter body is near a distal end of a guiding catheter, and wherein the backup branch guidewire extends alongside the catheter system inserting a branch vessel guidewire through the branch vessel guidewire lumen of the catheter system until a distal end of the branch vessel guidewire passes into the branch vessel; further advancing the catheter system over the main vessel guidewire and the branch vessel guidewire until the catheter body extends beyond the ostium and the side member extends into the branch vessel; observing separation of the markers to indicate that the catheter body has passed beyond the ostium and the side member extends into the branch vessel using angiographic imaging; withdrawing the backup branch vessel guidewire from the branch vessel; inflating the balloon to deploy the stent within the main vessel, with the side hole being aligned with the ostium; deflating the balloon; and withdrawing the catheter system from the main vessel and the branch vessel while leaving the main vessel guidewire and the branch vessel guidewire in place.