Method and apparatus for surgically restoring coronary blood vessels

A method for surgically restoring a coronary artery having an atheroma, to more normal structure and function, comprising the steps of:

• a. making an arteriotomy incision over the length of the coronary artery atheroma;
• b. spreading the cut edges of the arteriotomy incision;
• c. extracting the atherosclerotic plaque from the coronary artery, and from any side branch artery;
• d. inserting a pre-expanded endocoronary stent into the opened coronary artery;
• and
• e. closing the coronary artery over the stent with sutures.

A method for surgically restoring a coronary artery having an atheroma, to more normal structure and function, comprising the steps of:

• a. making an arteriotomy incision over the length of the coronary artery atheroma;
• b. spreading the cut edges of the arteriotomy incision;
• c. separating the plaque from the medial interface of a vessel wall of the coronary artery;
• d. extracting the atherosclerotic plaque from the coronary artery, and from any side branch artery;
• e. inserting a pre-expanded endocoronary stent into the opened coronary artery;
• and
• f. closing the coronary artery over the stent with sutures.

A method for surgically restoring a coronary artery having an atheroma, to more normal structure and function, comprising the steps of:

• a. making an arteriotomy incision over the length of the coronary artery atheroma;
• b. spreading the cut edges of the arteriotomy incision;
• c. separating the plaque from the medial interface of a vessel wall of the coronary artery;
• d. extracting the atherosclerotic plaque from the coronary artery, and from any side branch artery;
• e. inserting a pre-expanded endocoronary stent into the opened coronary artery;
• f. closing the coronary artery over the stent with sutures;
• and
• g. applying extravascular drug delivery material over the stent implantation site.

An endocoronary stent comprising:

• a spine;
• multiple ribs connected to the spine;
• and
• multiple vessel anchor prongs connected to the ribs,
• wherein each rib is circular in shape, encompasses 75% of the stent circumference, is manufactured from 316L stainless steel or tantalum, and has a thickness of no more than 0.12 mm.