Method of positioning a stent

Claim 1

A method of positioning a stent in a corporal channel of a patient's body, which comprises the steps of: (a) advancing into a patient's body through a corporal channel an exchangeable member having proximal and distal portions to the extent that the distal portion of said exchangeable member is at a desired site inside the patient's body and the proximal portion of said first exchangeable member is outside the patient's body; (b) outside the patient's body positioning a rapid exchange catheter system comprising (1) an exchange member having proximal and distal ends and defining a lumen, and (2) a rigid pushing wire having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the pushing wire being integral with and non-detachable from the proximal end of the exchange member, such that said pushing wire is configured to advance the exchange member distally to a desired location, so that said exchange member is concentric to the proximal portion of said exchangeable member and advancing said exchange member distally through said corporal channel to the desired site; and (c) withdrawing said exchangeable member proximally through said exchange member and removing said exchangeable member through said corporal channel from the body, whereby the exchange member functions as a removable stent in the corporal channel.

Claim 2

A method of positioning a stent in a corporal channel of a patient's body, which comprises the steps of: (a) advancing into a patient's body through a corporal channel an exchangeable member having proximal and distal portions to the extent that the distal portion of said exchangeable member is at a desired site inside the patient's body and the proximal portion of said first exchangeable member is outside the patient's body; (b) outside the patient's body positioning a rapid exchange catheter system comprising (1) an exchange member having proximal and distal ends and defining a lumen, and (2) a rigid pushing wire having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the pushing wire being integral with and non-detachable from the proximal end of the exchange member, such that said pushing wire is configured to advance the exchange member distally to a desired location, so that said exchange member is concentric to the proximal portion of said exchangeable member and advancing said exchange member distally through said corporal channel to the desired site; and (c) withdrawing said exchangeable member proximally through said exchange member and removing said exchangeable member through said corporal channel from the body, whereby the exchange member functions as a removable stent in the corporal channel.

Claim 3

A method of positioning a stent in a corporal channel of a patient's body, which comprises the steps of: (a) advancing into a patient's body through a corporal channel an exchangeable member having proximal and distal portions to the extent that the distal portion of said exchangeable member is at a desired site inside the patient's body and the proximal portion of said first exchangeable member is outside the patient's body; (b) outside the patient's body positioning a rapid exchange catheter system comprising (1) an exchange member having proximal and distal ends and defining a lumen, and (2) a rigid pushing wire having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the pushing wire being integral with and non-detachable from the proximal end of the exchange member, such that said pushing wire is configured to advance the exchange member distally to a desired location, wherein the pushing wire has a flexible, collapsible sheath having proximal and distal ends and being arranged thereon, such that as the collapsible sheath is expanded by infusion of fluid or insertion of a catheter, guidewire, or other device, the sheath's diameter increases, and when fluid flow ceases or the catheter, guidewire, or other device is withdrawn, the sheath's diameter decreases, so that the exchange member is concentric to the proximal portion of said exchangeable member and advancing said exchange member distally through said corporal channel to the desired site; and (c) withdrawing said exchangeable member proximally through said exchange member and removing said exchangeable member through said corporal channel from the body, whereby the exchange member functions as a removable stent in the corporal channel.

Claim 4

A method of positioning a stent in a corporal channel of a patient's body, which comprises the steps of: (a) advancing into a patient's body through a corporal channel an exchangeable member having proximal and distal portions to the extent that the distal portion of said exchangeable member is at a desired site inside the patient's body and the proximal portion of said first exchangeable member is outside the patient's body; (b) outside the patient's body positioning a rapid exchange catheter system comprising (1) an exchange member having proximal and distal ends and defining a lumen, and (2) a rigid pushing wire having proximal and distal ends, the distal end of the pushing wire being integral with and non-detachable from the proximal end of the exchange member, such that said pushing wire is configured to advance the exchange member distally to a desired location, wherein the pushing wire has a flexible, collapsible sheath having proximal and distal ends and being arranged thereon, such that as the collapsible sheath is expanded by infusion of fluid or insertion of a catheter, guidewire, or other device, the sheath's diameter increases, and when fluid flow ceases or the catheter, guidewire, or other device is withdrawn, the sheath's diameter decreases, so that the exchange member is concentric to the proximal portion of said exchangeable member and advancing said exchange member distally through said corporal channel to the desired site; and (c) withdrawing said exchangeable member proximally through said exchange member and removing said exchangeable member through said corporal channel from the body, whereby the exchange member functions as a removable stent in the corporal channel.