Wedge wire for use with a narrowed bifurcation vessel

Abstract

A wedge wire for maintaining the patency of an opening to a branch vessel while installing a stent in a main branch of a narrowed bifurcated vessel is provided. The wedge wire has a wedge portion that is larger than the rest of the body of the wedge wire and this wedge portion is used to maintain patency of the branch vessel when a balloon catheter is used to expand a stent in the main branch across the opening of the second branch.

1 . A wedge wire for maintaining the patency of an opening to a branch vessel while installing a stent in a main branch of a narrowed bifurcated vessel, the wedge wire comprising:
 a proximate end and a distal end;   a wedge portion positioned proximate the distal end;   a first portion extending between the proximate end and the wedge portion; and   a distal portion extending between the distal end and the wedge portion,   wherein the wedge portion is located between the first portion of the wedge wire and the distal portion of the wedge wire and is configured to connect the first portion and the distal portion, and   wherein the wedge portion has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the first portion and a thickness of the distal portion.   
     
     
         2 . The wedge wire of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the first portion and the thickness of the distal portion are substantially the same. 
     
     
         3 . The wedge wire of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion, the wedge portion and the distal portion have circular cross-sections. 
     
     
         4 . The wedge wire of  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the wedge portion is from 1.0 mm to 2 mm and a diameter of the first portion is less than 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The wedge wire of  claim 1 , wherein the wedge portion has tapered ends. 
     
     
         6 . The wedge wire of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion has a length of 10 mm. 
     
     
         7 - 14 . (canceled)