Method and apparatus for surgically restoring coronary blood vessels

Abstract

A method for surgically restoring a coronary artery having an atheroma, to more normal structure and function, includes the steps of: a. making an arteriotomy incision over the length of the coronary artery atheroma; b. spreading the cut edges of the arteriotomy incision; c. separating the plaque from the medial interface of a vessel wall of the coronary artery; d. extracting the atherosclerotic plaque from the coronary artery, and from any side branch artery; e. inserting a pre-expanded endocoronary stent with vessel anchor prongs into the opened coronary artery; f. closing the coronary artery over the stent with sutures; and g. applying extravascular drug delivery material over the stent implantation site. In another feature, the extravascular drug delivery material provides a local controlled release of bioactive factors to inhibit both thrombosis and smooth muscle cell proliferation.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for surgically restoring a coronary artery having an atheroma, to more normal structure and function, comprising the steps of: 
 a. making an arteriotomy incision over the length of the atheroma;    b. extracting atherosclerotic plaque from the atheroma;    c. inserting a pre-expanded endocoronary stent into the opened coronary artery; and    d. closing the coronary artery over the stent with sutures.    
     
     
         2 . A method for surgically restoring a coronary artery having an atheroma, to more normal structure and function, comprising the steps of: 
 a. making an arteriotomy incision over the length of the coronary artery atheroma;    b. spreading the cut edges of the arteriotomy incision;    c. extracting the atherosclerotic plaque from the coronary artery, and from any side branch artery;    d. inserting a pre-expanded endocoronary stent into the opened coronary artery; and    e. closing the coronary artery over the stent with sutures.    
     
     
         3 . A method for surgically restoring a coronary artery having an atheroma, to more normal structure and function, comprising the steps of: 
 a. making an arteriotomy incision over the length of the coronary artery atheroma;    b. spreading the cut edges of the arteriotomy incision;    c. separating the plaque from the medial interface of a vessel wall of the coronary artery;    d. extracting the atherosclerotic plaque from the coronary artery, and from any side branch artery;    e. inserting a pre-expanded endocoronary stent into the opened coronary artery; and    f. closing the coronary artery over the stent with sutures.    
     
     
         4 . A method for surgically restoring a coronary artery having an atheroma, to more normal structure and function, comprising the steps of: 
 a. making an arteriotomy incision over the length of the coronary artery atheroma;    b. spreading the cut edges of the arteriotomy incision;    c. separating the plaque from the medial interface of a vessel wall of the coronary artery;    d. extracting the atherosclerotic plaque from the coronary artery, and from any side branch artery;    e. inserting a pre-expanded endocoronary stent into the opened coronary artery;    f. closing the coronary artery over the stent with sutures; and    g. applying extravascular drug delivery material over the stent implantation site.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the extravascular drug delivery material provides a local controlled release of bioactive factors to inhibit both thrombosis and smooth muscle cell proliferation.  
     
     
         6 . The method of any of claims  1 - 5 , wherein the pre-expanded endocoronary stent has calibrated diameter, length, and curvature.  
     
     
         7 . An endocoronary stent comprising: 
 a spine;    multiple ribs connected to the spine; and    multiple vessel anchor prongs connected to the ribs,    wherein each rib is circular in shape, encompasses 75% of the stent circumference, is manufactured from 316L stainless steel or tantalum, and has a thickness of no more than 0.12 mm.    
     
     
         8 . The endocoronary stent of  claim 7 , wherein it is fabricated from a biocompatible material, is radially non-compressible, and is axially semi-flexible.  
     
     
         9 . The endocoronary stent of  claim 7 , having a diameter of any one of the following sizes: 2.5 mm, 3.0 mm, 3.5 mm, 4.0 mm, 4.5 mm, and 5.0 mm.  
     
     
         10 . The endocoronary stent of  claim 7 , having a length of any one of the following sizes: 20 mm, 25 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 60 mm and 75 mm.