Implantable intraluminal protector device and method of using same for stabilizing atheromas

摘要

An intraluminal device implantable in a body lumen having an atheroma therein in the vicinity of a side-branch vessel includes a mesh-like tube of bio-compatible material formed with liquid-permeable window openings. The mesh-like tube has an expanded condition in which the tube diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the body lumen in which it is to be implanted, and the tube length is sufficient to cover the atheroma and the side-branch orifice, and to be anchored to the body lumen around the periphery of the atheroma, and a contracted condition wherein it is sufficiently flexible so as to be easily manipulatable through the body lumen to the site of the atheroma. The mesh-like tube, in its expanded condition, has window openings of a size and distribution such as to structurally stabilize the atheroma and to keep embolic material originating from the atheroma in place on the wall of the body lumen, while diverting embolic material of predetermined size present in the blood flowing through the mesh-like tube from the side-branch orifice, without substantially impeding the blood flow, or increasing the thrombogenitic properties, of the blood flowing into the side-branch orifice.