| abstract |
A method is provided for remodeling a body lumen, such as a coronary artery, having a stenosis using a thermoplastic stent including the steps of increasing the temperature of the thermoplastic stent, body lumen and stenosis at the region of the stenosis for a time period and to a temperature level sufficient to cause a change in the stent, stenosis and body lumen region from a relatively solid state into a softer and more moldable state and thereafter expanding the stenosis and the body lumen region while in the softer and more moldable state to thus reduce the tendency to fracture during expansion while enabling the stent to contact an inner surface of a wall of the body lumen, and reducing the temperature of the thermoplastic stent, stenosis and body lumen region while maintaining the expansion for a time period and to a temperature level sufficient to re-establish the relatively solid state thereof so that the thermoplastic tent molds against the surface of the inner surface of the wall of the body lumen to maintain the stenosis and body lumen region in the expanded condition. An improved heat applying balloon catheter is provided including passages for displacing the heated balloon inflating liquid with a cooling liquid to carry out the method. |