Method of measuring a body cavity

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed for measuring the desired length of a prosthetic device which is to be implanted in a body cavity of a patient. The apparatus generally includes a helically coiled stent formed of a resiliently-deformable material, a plunger which is connected to the proximal end of the stent, a sheath which slides over the plunger and stent when the plunger and sheath are used to insert and removably deploy the stent into the body cavity, and a scale for measuring an indication of the length of the stent once removably deployed in the body cavity. Proximal movement of the sheath to partially deploy the stent causes a length to be indicated on the scale. According to the method of the invention, the helically coiled stent of the apparatus is placed and partially deployed within the body cavity by use of the plunger and sheath of the apparatus. Once the stent bridges the body cavity, the scale of the apparatus is used to determine the length of the deployed stent. The apparatus is then removed from the body cavity, and a stent similar to the stent of the apparatus is cut to the length indicated on the scale. In a second embodiment of the apparatus and method, the stent of the measuring apparatus is substantially non-porous to allow occlusion of side vessels extending from the body cavity. The patient is then monitored for any ill effects resulting from the occlusion.