Device and method for treating ischemic heart disease

Abstract

A narrowing intraluminal stent is disclosed and comprises a hollow body and a flow passage therethrough, the hollow body designed for intraluminal placement and having at least one portion of an inner cross sectional dimension smaller than the cross sectional dimension of the lumen, so as to artificially narrow a passage through the body lumen. A method of artificially narrowing a passage through a body lumen using the stent is also disclosed.

1 . A method of affecting blood flow in coronary vessels, comprising: 
 (a) transvascularly guiding a catheter to a coronary sinus; and    (b) narrowing a cross-sectional dimension of a flow lumen of said coronary sinus using said catheter.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein narrowing comprises deploying a flow reducer in said coronary sinus.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein deploying comprises deploying using a balloon.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein deploying comprises deploying a self-expanding reducer.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein narrowing comprises narrowing in a manner that increases back pressure.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein narrowing comprises narrowing in a manner that initiates angiogenesis.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein narrowing comprises narrowing in a manner that accelerates angiogenesis.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein narrowing comprises narrowing in a manner that prevents ischemic heart disease.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein narrowing comprises permanently narrowing.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising: 
 determining that a patient has ischemic heart disease; and    performing (a)-(b).    
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 1 , comprising reducing said a diameter of said cross-section by a factor of at least 2.6.  
   
   
       12 . A method of improving perfusion of a tissue, comprising: 
 (a) identifying a tissue having a deficient degree of blood flow there through; and    (b) transvascularly narrowing a cross-sectional diameter of a vessel carrying blood from said tissue.    
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said vessel comprises a coronary sinus.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said tissue comprises cardiac tissue.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said narrowing is sufficient to cause angiogenesis in said tissue.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein narrowing comprises implanting a flow reducer in said vessel.