System and method for delivering a stent to a bifurcated vessel

Abstract

A stent delivery catheter system for accurately positioning a stent in a bifurcated vessel is disclosed. The system includes a catheter having a terminal portion and distal tip that is placed in a main branch of the vessel proximate the bifurcation. A fixed guidewire is attached to distal tip. A port is defined in the terminal portion of the catheter. The port is aligned with an ostium of a side branch of the bifurcated vessel to allow the passage of a stent delivery device, such as a balloon catheter having a stent crimped thereon, into the side branch. Radiopaque bands are positioned on opposite ends of the port. A positioning balloon is included on a surface of the catheter opposite the port and is selectively inflatable to position the radiopaque bands adjacent the side branch ostium. The radiopaque bands are referenced to place the stent proximate the side branch ostium.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method for deploying a stent to a branch of a bifurcated vessel, the method comprising:
 inserting a first catheter into a main branch of the bifurcated vessel;   aligning a port defined in the first catheter with an ostium of a side branch of the bifurcated vessel;   extending a stent delivery device over a guidewire extending from the port of the first catheter into the side branch, into the side branch of the bifurcated vessel;   bringing at least one position indicator of the first catheter into proximity with the ostium of the side branch of the bifurcated vessel; and   adjusting a position of the stent delivery device in the side branch such that a proximal end of the stent is positioned substantially adjacent the at least one position indicator.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 deploying the stent in the side branch, the proximal end of the stent being positioned proximate the ostium of the side branch; and   removing the stent delivery device from the side branch via the port defined in the first catheter.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein aligning the port further comprises aligning the port defined in the first catheter axially and radially with the side branch of the bifurcated vessel. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein bringing at least one position indicator of the first catheter into proximity with the ostium of the side branch further comprises inflating a positioning balloon disposed on the first catheter so as to press the at least one position indicator into proximity with the ostium of the side branch. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising extending a first guidewire into the main branch of the bifurcated lumen before inserting the first catheter into the main branch. 
     
     
         34 . A method for deploying a stent to a branch of a bifurcated vessel, the method comprising:
 inserting a first catheter into a main branch of the bifurcated vessel;   aligning a port defined in the first catheter with an ostium of a side branch of the bifurcated vessel;   via a guidewire extending from the port into the side branch, extending a stent delivery device into the side branch;   bringing at least one position indicator of the first catheter into proximity with the ostium of the side branch; and   adjusting a position of the stent delivery device in the side branch such that a proximal end of the stent is positioned substantially adjacent the at least one position indicator.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 deploying the stent in the side branch, the proximal end of the stent being positioned proximate the ostium of the side branch; and   removing the stent delivery device from the side branch via the port defined in the first catheter.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising referencing the at least one position indicator relative to a proximal end of the stent upon deploying the stent into the side branch. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising deploying the stent in the side branch so as to not overhang into the main branch of the bifurcated vessel. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein aligning the port further comprises aligning the port defined in the first catheter axially and radially with the side branch of the bifurcated vessel. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein bringing the at least one position indicator of the first catheter into proximity with the ostium of the side branch further comprises inflating an expandable means for selectively positioning the at least one position indicator into proximity with the ostium. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one position indicator is at least one radiopaque marker. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the expandable means comprise a positioning balloon disposed on the first catheter so as to press the at least one position indicator into proximity with the ostium of the side branch. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising expanding the positioning balloon non-concentrically about the first catheter. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising expanding the positioning balloon to encompass less than an entire circumference of the first catheter. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising expanding the positioning balloon to encompass more than a majority of an entire circumference of the first catheter. 
     
     
         45 . A method for deploying a stent to a branch of a bifurcated vessel, the method comprising:
 inserting a first catheter into a main branch of the bifurcated vessel;   aligning a port defined in the first catheter with an ostium of a side branch of the bifurcated vessel;   advancing a stent delivery device along the first catheter toward the side branch of the bifurcated vessel;   via a guidewire extending from the port into the side branch, extending the stent delivery device into the side branch;   inflating a positioning balloon to bring at least one radiopaque marker of the first catheter into proximity with the ostium of the side branch; and   adjusting a position of the stent delivery device in the side branch such that a proximal end of the stent is positioned substantially adjacent the radiopaque marker.   
     
     
         46 . The method for deploying as defined in  claim 45 , further comprising:
 deploying the stent in the side branch, the proximal end of the stent being positioned proximate the ostium of the side branch; and   removing the stent delivery device from the side branch via the port defined in the first catheter.   
     
     
         47 . The method for deploying as defined in  claim 45 , further comprising extending a first guidewire into the main branch of the bifurcated lumen before inserting the first catheter into the main branch. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising expanding the positioning balloon to encompass less than an entire circumference of the first catheter along a longitudinally length from a proximal end to a distal end of the positioning balloon. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprises expanding the positioning balloon to encompass more than a majority of an entire circumference of the first catheter along a longitudinally length from a proximal end to a distal end of the positioning balloon. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein extending the stent delivery device into the side branch further comprises extending the stent delivery device at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first catheter. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising positioning a predetermined portion of the stent adjacent a predetermined portion of an outer perimeter of the stent delivery device before transit through the first catheter to the ostium of the side branch.