Stent positioning system and method

Abstract

A stent combined with a positioning apparatus to effectively place the stent at a precise deployment site within a narrowed vascular region such as an artery. The stent is maneuvered through the vessel and is guided by a guiding catheter up the vessel to where the narrowing is located. Upon exiting the guiding catheter and approaching the deployment site within the coronary artery, a deployment site locator expands to contact the vascular structure and, thereby, effectively position the stent at the deployment site within the narrowed vessel. This system apparatus and method is particularly useful for stent placement at an ostium (origin) of a vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stent placement system for use with a guiding catheter as part of a stent procedure, the stent placement system comprising:
 a deployment site locator coaxially receivable within the guiding catheter, the deployment site locator including:
 a base, and 
 a plurality of rods affixed to the base, each one of the plurality of rods having a distal end, wherein the deployment site locator is adapted to provide an expanded state in which the plurality of rods extend radially outward from the base to contact vascular structures; 
   wherein the deployment site locator is adapted for use with a stent delivery device capable of delivering a stent.