New tapered metallic stent for unresectable malignant hilar bile duct obstruction

Figure 1 The metallic stent at the top is the ordinary laser-cut uncovered metallic stent. The one at the bottom is the laser-cut uncovered metallic stent (PIOLAX: Japan) created for exclusive use in the liver. This metallic stent is 8 cm in full size with a 3-cm tapered tip and a mesh space of 6-8 mm in the center of the stent; its internal diameter is 10 mm in the papillary side and 8 mm in the hepatic side.

Figure 2 New tapered metallic stent (fluoroscopic image). A: Tapered laser-cut metallic stent placed in the liver. Stenting along the shape of the bile duct was possible (fluoroscopic image: front view); B: Fluoroscopic image: oblique view.

Figure 3 Laser-cut metallic stent with a comparatively large mesh space of about 6. 8 mm × 8.0 mm in the center.