Method and apparatus for using a biased member to ascertain appropriate stent selection
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorEwnet Gebrehiwot
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for determining an effective diameter of a blood vessel at a deployment site includes an outer member defining a garage disposed within the outer member and an inner member slidingly disposed within the garage, the inner member adapted to be advanced distally from the garage in order to obtain or measure a diameter of a blood vessel in which the apparatus is disposed. The inner member includes an elongate shaft and a biased member extending from the elongate shaft, the biased member adapted to extend radially outwardly from the elongate shaft when not constrained by being within the garage. The biased member may be visible via ultrasound imaging and/or fluoroscopic imaging.
Claims16
An apparatus for determining an effective diameter of a blood vessel at a deployment site, the apparatus comprising:
- an outer member defining a garage disposed within the outer member;
- and
- an inner member slidingly disposed within the garage, the inner member adapted to be advanced distally from the garage in order to determine the effective diameter of the blood vessel in which the apparatus is disposed, the inner member comprising:
- an elongate shaft having a distal region;
- and
- an expandable member extending from the distal region, the expandable member biased to extend radially outwardly from the distal region when not constrained by being within the garage;
- wherein the expandable member comprises:
- a first group of fingers at a first axial position along the elongate shaft, each finger of the first group of fingers including a spring element disposed within a distinct polymeric sleeve;
- and
- a second group of fingers at a second axial position along the elongate shaft, each finger of the second group of fingers including a spring element disposed within a distinct polymeric sleeve.
An apparatus for determining an effective diameter of a blood vessel at a deployment site, the apparatus comprising:
- an outer member defining a lumen disposed within the outer member;
- and
- an inner member slidingly disposed within the lumen, the inner member adapted to be advanced distally from the lumen in order to determine the effective diameter of the blood vessel in which the apparatus is disposed, the inner member comprising:
- an elongate shaft having a distal region;
- and
- a plurality of fingers extending from the distal region of the elongate shaft, each of the plurality of fingers biased to independently extend radially outwardly from the distal region of the elongate shaft, each of the plurality of fingers constrained from extending radially outwardly when the inner member is disposed within the lumen,
- wherein each of the plurality of fingers comprises:
- a spring element biased to extend radially outwardly;
- and
- a separate polymeric sleeve extending over the spring element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.