AN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE LENGTH AND SIZE OF STENTS TO BE DEPLOYED IN A STENOTIC BLOOD VESSEL AND FOR TEST OF PASSAGE FOR DIRECT STENTING

摘要

The present invention provides a novel gauging for accurately assisting in determining the length and size of a suitable stent to be deployed. The distal end of the catheter is furnished with a series of radio- opaque markings in a unique and novel arrangement which makes for ease of determination of length of stent to be used. The markings also aid in the determination of the size of the stent. The present invention also serves to function as a test of passage for direct senting. The distal end of the same gauging catheter is bulleted to simulate the profile of a stent and balloon assembly for this purpose.