Pediatric application of bioabsorbable polymer stents in infants and children with congenital heart defects

Abstract

Methods of treating congenital heart defects in infants and children with bioabsorbable polymer stents are described. The treatments reduce or eliminate the adverse affects of congenital heart defects or may be palliative.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method of treating a congenital heart defect in a human patient comprising:
 identifying a human child having abnormalities associated with Tetralogy of the Fallot, wherein the abnormalities include pulmonary stenosis and at least two additional abnormalities from the group consisting of ventricular septal defect, right ventricular hypertrophy and overriding of the aorta;   deploying a bioabsorbable polymer scaffold in the pulmonary artery of the patient,   wherein the deployed bioabsorbable scaffold provides support at an increased diameter to allow increased blood flow into the lung of the patient,   wherein the increased blood flow facilitates development of the lungs;   performing surgical repair of at least one of the additional abnormalities at some time after deployment,   wherein the scaffold is completely absorbed after providing the support for a period of time.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the scaffold maintains a radial strength of at least 200 mmHg for at least 6 months. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein prior to deployment, the scaffold is constrained at a reduced diameter by a sheath and is deployed by removing the sheath and allowing the scaffold to self-expand to the increased diameter. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein prior to deployment, the scaffold is constrained at a reduced diameter around a balloon and is deployed by expanding the balloon which expands the scaffold to the increased diameter. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising implanting an additional bioabsorbable scaffold at the implant site of the scaffold after the scaffold has partially or completely absorbed, wherein the additional scaffold is deployed at a greater diameter than the absorbed scaffold to accommodate for growth in the pulmonary artery. 
     
     
         12 - 26 . (canceled)