ULTRASOUND GUIDE WIRE DIRECTED STENT DEPLOYMENT

A new mechanically rotated 20 MHz intravascular ultrasound guide wire (0.032 inch) with a transducer core was placed through the central lum en of a peripheral arterial balloon-expandable stent. Using an anesthe tized canine model, 11 stents were then deployed into the iliac or fem oral arteries. Eight stents were successfully deployed with proper pos ition and full stent expansion documented by ultrasound imaging. Four of the stents were overlapping and the double row of stent struts at t he region of overlap was easily seen. Three stents were unsuccessfully deployed because of undersizing, as clearly documented by ultrasound imaging showing stent strut recoil. As a result, the procedure was mod ified by performing ultrasound measurements of arterial dimensions bef ore stent selection. There were no complications attributed to the ult rasound guide wire. This study demonstrates an effective combination o f diagnostic and therapeutic devices that may allow more precise place ment of intravascular stents.