[Pilot study of a stent made of a shape memorizing alloy used for obstructive jaundice]

To learn about endoprosthetic stents used for obstructive jaundice, we examined the pathohistologic effects of stents on bile ducts using 35 adult mongrel dogs. Small histological changes of the epithelium were observed under a microscope for materials having a shape-memorizing alloy with gold plating. Our stent contain NiTi, which restored the memorized shape and size at 40-42 degrees C. The initial outer diameter of stent was 3 mm. After memory restoration, the diameter expanded 5 mm in diameter. An alloy was 0.3-0.5 mm phi in diameter. In this paper, we introduced our insertion devices and display those of cases where stents were used for endoprosthesis in obstructive jaundice.