Patent ID: 6273895
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
A method of measuring the desired length of a prosthetic device which is to be implanted in a body cavity of a patient using a measuring apparatus having a stent formed of a resiliently-deformable material, a placement means for inserting and removably deploying said stent into the body cavity, and a measuring means for obtaining an indication of a length of said stent which was deployed in the body, said method comprising:a) compressing the stent of the apparatus such that the diameter of the stent is less than the diameter of the body cavity;b) locating the compressed stent within the body cavity;c) using the placement means to removably deploy at least a first portion of the stent into the body cavity such that at least a portion of said first portion expands in diameter;d) obtaining an indication of a length of the stent which was deployed in the body cavity; ande) removing the stent and the apparatus from the body cavity.