| abstract |
Apparatus and methods are provided for restoring and maintaining an open passage or lumen in a body conduit, such as a blood vessel, which has become stenosed or occluded. The apparatus includes a stent which is specially adapted for inhibiting restenosis within the stent after implantation in a body passage. In various embodiments, the apparatus also includes a catheter or other device for operating the stent to inhibit restenosis within the stented region of the body passage. The methods presented include implanting the stent within a body passage, typically a blood vessel such as a coronary artery, which has become stenosed or occluded, and operating the stent to inhibit ingrowth of stenotic material which would result in restenosis of the stented region. The stent may be operated manually to inhibit or remove ingrowth of stenotic material, for example by introducing a catheter which acts on the stent, or the stent may operate automatically to inhibit or remove ingrowth of stenotic material without manual intervention. |