Patent ductus arteriosus stent

A method of stenting the ductus arteriosus in a pediatric human patient in order to ensure adequate blood flow, the method comprising:

• providing a retrievable stent comprising:
• a proximal end connector and a distal end tip disposed about a longitudinal axis, the proximal end connector including one or more retrieval mechanisms and a proximal end connector lumen that runs the length of the proximal end connector, and the distal end tip having a distal end tip lumen that runs the length of the distal end tip, and
• a plurality of 4 to 8 struts extending from the proximal end connector to the distal end tip, each of the struts having a curved proximal strut end and a curved distal strut end wherein the curved proximal strut end and the curved distal strut end extend radially outward from the longitudinal axis and toward one another, each of the struts further having an elongated strut body portion that extends from the curved proximal strut end to the curved distal strut end, the elongated strut body portions extending parallel to each other;
• and
• positioning the retrievable stent in the ductus arteriosus of the pediatric human patient so that the stent struts are parallel with the vascular wall of the ductus arteriosus, and wherein the curved proximal strut ends and the curved distal strut ends engage the ductus arteriosus to provide the radial force necessary to keep the ductus arteriosus open while the elongated strut body portions of each of the 4 to 8 struts minimally engage the ductus arteriosus to prevent invagination into the vascular wall of the ductus arteriosus.