Stent for positioning in a body conduit or method for producing this stent

Abstract

By a contrast means contained in an inventive stent which has a greater permeability for x-radiation features than the body tissue surrounding the stent in a relevant body conduit, this stent can be clearly detected in its position on an x-ray image of the relevant body conduit while at the same time exhibiting good biological compatibility; a gas, especially one contained in cavities of the stent is provided as a contrast means. The inventive production method for this stent with the aid of a catheter embodied specially for the purpose enables the production of the stent from a malleable polymer mass in the relevant body conduit so that the stent is adapted especially precisely to the shape of the relevant body conduit.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . A stent arranged in a body conduit of a patient, comprising: 
 a plastic deformable material that forms the stent; and    a contrast medium that contains in the stent with a higher permeability for an x-radiation than body tissues surrounding the stent and makes the stent to be easily visible in an x-ray image without a potential danger to healthy of the patient.    
   
   
       17 . The stent as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the contrast medium is a gas.  
   
   
       18 . The stent as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the gas is carbon dioxide.  
   
   
       19 . The stent as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the stent has cavities in which the gas is enclosed.  
   
   
       20 . The stent as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the stent comprises a polymer material.  
   
   
       21 . The stent as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the polymer material is a polymer foam.  
   
   
       22 . The stent as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the plastic deformable material permanently maintains a shape change through a radial expansion of the stent when the stent is in the body conduit.  
   
   
       23 . A method for forming a stent in a body conduit of a patient, comprising: 
 positioning a catheter at a position of the body conduit where the stent is intended to be placed;    arranging an tubular filling area surrounding a part of the catheter;    filling the tubular filling area with a hardenable polymer mass;    hardening the polymer mass in the tubular filling area to form the stent; and    removing the catheter from the body conduit with the stent remaining in the body conduit.    
   
   
       24 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein a contrast medium is mixed with the polymer mass or brought into the filling area before the filling.  
   
   
       25 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the contrast medium has a higher permeability for an x-radiation than body tissues surrounding the stent which makes the stent to be easily visible in an x-ray image.  
   
   
       26 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the contrast medium is a gas and distributed by foaming up the polymer mass with the gas in the stent.  
   
   
       27 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the gas is a carbon dioxide.  
   
   
       28 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the filling area is expandable by filling with the hardenable polymer mass.  
   
   
       29 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the filling area is accommodated in an inner chamber of the catheter.  
   
   
       30 . The method as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the inner chamber is a closable capsule.  
   
   
       31 . The method as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein an opening from the inner chamber to the filling area is closed off after the filling and before the removal of the catheter from the body conduit.  
   
   
       32 . The method as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the opening from the inner chamber to the filling area is closed off after the filling and before the hardening of the polymer mass.  
   
   
       33 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the polymer mass is liquefied or hardened in the filling area by a temperature change.  
   
   
       34 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein a balloon section of the catheter surrounded by the filling area is inflated after positioning the catheter in the body conduit.