Patent attributes
In part, the invention relates to a method for sizing a stent for placement in a vessel. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of: dividing the vessel into a plurality of segments, each segment being defined as the space between branches of the vessel; selecting a starting point that appears to have substantially no disease; defining the diameter at this point to be the maximum diameter; calculating the maximal diameter of the next adjacent segment according to a power law; measuring the actual diameter of the next adjacent segment; selecting either the calculated maximum diameter or the measured maximum diameter depending upon which diameter is larger; using the selected maximum diameter to find the maximum diameter of this next segment; iteratively proceeding until the entire length of the vessel is examined; and selecting a stent in response to the diameters of the end proximal and distal segments.
