Endoluminal prosthesis placing method

A catheter assembly comprising:

• a catheter comprising first and second rotatable, telescoping shafts having first and second prosthesis portion holders, respectively, said first shaft being a tubular shaft housing said second shaft therein;
• a coiled endoluminal prosthesis, having a plurality of turns and a generally helical gap defined between said turns, capable of assuming a second, expanded-diameter state from a first, reduced-diameter state;
• the prosthesis having first and second prosthesis portions releasably engageable with the first and second prosthesis portion holders, respectively;
• whereby the length and the number of turns of the coiled endoluminal prosthesis can be changed by relative longitudinal and rotary motion of the shafts.

A method for placing an endoluminal prosthesis within a body comprising:

• introducing the distal portion of a catheter assembly at a chosen position within a body, the distal catheter portion comprising a coiled endoluminal prosthesis would about a catheter shaft, the prosthesis having a plurality of turns and being capable of assuming a second, expanded-diameter state from a first, reduced-diameter state, said turns having spaces therebetween when in the second state, the pitch of at least one turn being greater than the pitch of adjacent turns when in the second state, the prosthesis releasably connected to the catheter shaft at a first position along the prosthesis at the at least one turn and at a second position along the prosthesis, the second position being spaced-apart from the first position;
• locating said at least one turn at an intersection of a first vessel and a branching vessel;
• releasing the prosthesis from the catheter;
• maintaining the first position of the prosthesis at the intersection;
• and
• the locating and maintaining steps being carried out so to keep the intersection substantially unobstructed to enhance fluid flow between the first and branching vessels with the prosthesis in its second, expanded-diameter state.

A method for placing an endoluminal prosthesis within a body comprising:

• introducing the distal portion of a catheter assembly at a chosen position within a body, the distal catheter portion comprising a coiled endoluminal prosthesis wound about first and second rotatable, telescoping shafts, the prosthesis having a plurality of turns and being capable of assuming a second, expanded-diameter state from a first, reduced-diameter state, said turns having spaces therebetween when in the second state, the prosthesis releasably connected to the first and second shafts at first and second positions along the prosthesis, the second position being spaced-apart from the first position;
• locating said prosthesis at a target site;
• selectively adjusting the number of turns of the prosthesis by rotating at least one of the shafts relative to one another;
• selectively adjusting the length of the prosthesis by longitudinally moving at least one of the shafts relative to one another;
• releasing the prosthesis from the shafts;
• and
• removing the shafts from the body.