Patent ID: 6312461
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A stent deployment system, comprising:at least one radially expandable stent means having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen, each said stent means comprising a hollow, generally cylindrical member having a side surface comprising a mesh having a plurality of openings, said mesh being formed by at least one elongate member comprised of a shape memory alloy having a martensite start temperature less than body temperature and an austenite finish temperature above body temperature, said at least one elongate member having a memorized shape which is recovered when said elongate member is heated to said temperature above body temperature, said at least one elongate member having a lumen;delivery means adapted to convey the at least one stent means to a lumen of a vessel; andheating means adapted to heat at least a portion of said at least one elongate member to said temperature above body temperature to at least partially recover said memorized shape, said heating means comprising at lest one optical fiber, each said optical fiber extending into the lumen of a respective one of said elongate members and being adapted to transmit photo-thermal energy onto at least part of an inner surface of the elongate member;wherein said memorized shape is selected so that shape recovery of said at least one elongate member results in radial expansion of said at least one stent means inside the lumen of the vessel.