Stent locating device

Abstract

Abstract A method of detecting a metallic stent inside a living body wherein the method includes the steps of: (1) providing a stent locator device, (2) providing a metallic stent, (3) inserting the metallic stent into the living body, (4) inserting the stent locator into the living body and (5) locating the stent with the stent locator by detecting an electrical parameter affected by the position of the stent relative to the position of the locating device. The electrical parameter may be detected with a pair of electrodes or a coil mounted to the distal end of the stent locator. The stent locator may include one or more radiopaque markers mounted on the distal end such that the position of the stent may be radiographically correlated to the position of the stent locator device. Alternatively, the stent locator may include one or more visual markers mounted on the proximal end such that the position of the stent may be visually correlated to the position of the stent locator device. The stent locator may be in the form of virtually any intraluminal device such as a guide wire, a balloon catheter, an atherectomy catheter or a stent delivery catheter. In addition, the stent may be inserted prior to, subsequent to or simultaneously with the stent locator device.

Inventors

• 👤 Daniel M. Lafontaine
• 👤 Roger N. Hastings

Bibliographic Details