Patent ID: 6383213
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A method for delivering a stent delivery assembly in a patient for treating a bifurcated vessel, the method comprising:a. providing a stent delivery assembly having i. an elongated catheter having a distal end and a proximal end, and a first guide wire lumen and second guide wire lumen, each of the guide wire lumens extending for at least a portion within the elongated catheter; ii. a first expandable member and a second expandable member attached to the elongated catheter, at least one inflation lumen extending from the catheter proximal end to an interior space within the first and second expandable members; iii. the first expandable member and the second expandable member configured in a side-by-side relationship so that as the first expandable member advances a distance into a first vessel the second expandable member simultaneously advances a distance into a second vessel; iv. mounting a Y-shaped stent on the first and second expandable members; b. positioning a first guide wire within the first guide wire lumen so that a distal end of the first guide wire remains in the first guide wire lumen; c. positioning a second guide wire in a vessel so that a distal end of the second guide wire is positioned distal of the bifurcation; d. backloading a proximal end of the second guide wire into a distal section of the catheter and into the second guide wire lumen; e. advancing the catheter over the second guide wire and simultaneously carrying the first guide wire in the first guide wire lumen; f. positioning the catheter distal end distal of the bifurcation; g. withdrawing proximally the second guide wire so that the distal end of the second guide wire withdraws from the distal section thereby releasing the first expandable member from the second expandable member; h. advancing the distal end of the first guide wire distal of the catheter distal end and into a first vessel distal of the bifurcation; i. withdrawing the catheter proximally so that the catheter distal end is proximal of the bifurcation; j. advancing the second guide wire into the second vessel; k. advancing the catheter over both the first and second guide wires so that at least a portion of the Y-shaped stent is positioned in the first and second vessels; l. inflating the expandable member and simultaneously expanding and implanting the Y-shaped stent in the vessels forming the bifurcation; m. deflating the first and second expandable members; n. withdrawing the catheter from the patient.