| abstract |
Methods and assemblies for dilating and delivering a stent into a body cavity or vessel are described. The assembly is particularly suited for the dilation, delivery and fixation of a stent in a body cavity, such as within a stricture in the esophagus, and includes a guidewire, an endoscope having a dilator cap affixed to an end, a stent, and a flexible stent delivery device. The dilator cap can be customized to various sizes, depending upon the interior diameter of the stricture to be dilated, and can be interchanged with other dilator caps on the distal end of the endoscope. In use, the endoscope-dilator assembly can be slid down the guidewire to the stricture to be dilated, the stent can be delivered along the guidewire using a delivery device, and then the delivery device and associated assemblies can be retracted along the guidewire while leaving the stent in position. |