Apparatus and methods for deployment of multiple custom-length prostheses (III)
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for constraining a portion of an expandable member within a target vessel of a patient, comprising:
- a flexible catheter having an outer sheath slidably disposed over an inner shaft;
an expandable member coupled to the inner shaft;
a cylindrical constraining member positioned near or at a distal end of the outer sheath, wherein the cylindrical constraining member comprises;
a distal member section having no cut-outs such that a radial strength of the distal member section is sufficient to restrain the expandable member from expanding;
a first set of cut-outs adjacent and proximal to the distal member section;
a central member section, adjacent and proximal to the first set of cut-outs, having a second set of cut-outs with a repeating set of cut-out pairs, wherein a first cut-out pair comprises two connecting struts positioned along a first transverse axis and a second adjacent cut-out pair comprises two additional connecting struts positioned along a second transverse axis, wherein the second transverse axis is offset from the first transverse axis, and wherein the cylindrical constraining member is most axially flexible about the first and second transverse axes relative to a remainder of the cylindrical constraining member;
a third and fourth set of cut-outs adjacent and proximal to the central member section; and
a proximal member section, adjacent and proximal to the fourth set of cut-outs, comprising a proximal end connected to the central member section via axially-aligned struts forming a fifth set of cut-outs that are circumferentially aligned, wherein a valve member is connected to the proximal member section at the axially-aligned struts; and
a plurality of tubular prostheses releasably carried over the expandable member, wherein the outer sheath is disposed over the prostheses such that retraction of the outer sheath relative to the inner shaft exposes a distal portion of the expandable member for expansion while a proximal portion of the expandable member is restrained from expanding by the constraining member, wherein the constraining member has a length at least as long as one of the tubular prostheses.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for delivering stents to body lumens include one or more tubular prostheses carried at the distal end of a catheter shaft, a sheath slidably disposed over the prostheses, and a guidewire tube extending from within the sheath to the exterior of the sheath through an exit port in a sidewall thereof. A guidewire extends slidably through the guidewire tube. The sheath can be moved relative to the catheter shaft and the guidewire tube to expose the prostheses for deployment. Methods of delivering stents are also provided.
315 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for constraining a portion of an expandable member within a target vessel of a patient, comprising:
-
a flexible catheter having an outer sheath slidably disposed over an inner shaft; an expandable member coupled to the inner shaft; a cylindrical constraining member positioned near or at a distal end of the outer sheath, wherein the cylindrical constraining member comprises; a distal member section having no cut-outs such that a radial strength of the distal member section is sufficient to restrain the expandable member from expanding; a first set of cut-outs adjacent and proximal to the distal member section; a central member section, adjacent and proximal to the first set of cut-outs, having a second set of cut-outs with a repeating set of cut-out pairs, wherein a first cut-out pair comprises two connecting struts positioned along a first transverse axis and a second adjacent cut-out pair comprises two additional connecting struts positioned along a second transverse axis, wherein the second transverse axis is offset from the first transverse axis, and wherein the cylindrical constraining member is most axially flexible about the first and second transverse axes relative to a remainder of the cylindrical constraining member; a third and fourth set of cut-outs adjacent and proximal to the central member section; and a proximal member section, adjacent and proximal to the fourth set of cut-outs, comprising a proximal end connected to the central member section via axially-aligned struts forming a fifth set of cut-outs that are circumferentially aligned, wherein a valve member is connected to the proximal member section at the axially-aligned struts; and a plurality of tubular prostheses releasably carried over the expandable member, wherein the outer sheath is disposed over the prostheses such that retraction of the outer sheath relative to the inner shaft exposes a distal portion of the expandable member for expansion while a proximal portion of the expandable member is restrained from expanding by the constraining member, wherein the constraining member has a length at least as long as one of the tubular prostheses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An apparatus for constraining a portion of an expandable member within a target vessel of a patient, comprising:
-
a constraining member positioned near or at a distal end of an outer sheath slidably disposed over an expandable member which is coupled to an inner shaft of a catheter; and
,a plurality of tubular prostheses releasably carried over the expandable member, wherein the outer sheath is disposed over the prostheses and is axially movable relative thereto, wherein the constraining member comprises; a first set of cut-outs; a central member section, adjacent and proximal to the first set of cut-outs, having a second set of cut-outs with a repeating set of cut-out pairs, wherein a first cut-out pair comprises two transverse slot-like cut-outs circumferentially aligned and separated by two connecting struts along a first transverse axis, wherein two adjacent connecting struts separate an adjacent cut-out pair along a second transverse axis, wherein the second transverse axis is offset from the first transverse axis, and wherein the cylindrical constraining member is most axially flexible about the first and second transverse axes relative to a remainder of the cylindrical constraining member; a third and fourth set of cut-outs adjacent and proximal to the central member section; a proximal member section, adjacent and proximal to the fourth set of cut-outs, comprising a proximal end connected to the central member section via axially-aligned struts forming a fifth set of cut-outs that are circumferentially aligned, wherein a valve member is connected to the proximal member section at the axially-aligned struts, and wherein the valve member is configured to engage at least one of the tubular prostheses when disposed within the constraining member. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An apparatus for deploying at least one tubular prosthesis within a vessel, comprising:
-
a flexible catheter having an outer sheath slidably disposed over an inner shaft; a plurality of tubular prostheses slidably positioned upon the inner shaft and deployable therefrom prostheses; and a valve member positioned within a garage member mounted to the outer sheath and configured to engage at least one of the tubular prosthesis such that the valve member restricts sliding movement of the tubular prosthesis distally relative to the outer sheath, wherein the garage member comprises a cylindrical constraining member comprises; a distal member section having no cut-outs such that a radial strength of the distal member section is sufficient to restrain the expandable member from expanding; a first set of cut-outs adjacent and proximal to the distal member section; a central member section, adjacent and proximal to the first set of cut-outs, having a second set of cut-outs with a repeating set of cut-out pairs, wherein one cut-out pair comprises two transverse slot-like cut-outs circumferentially aligned and separated by two connecting struts along a first transverse axis, wherein two adjacent connecting struts separating an adjacent cut-out pair a second transverse axis, wherein the second transverse axis is offset from the first transverse axis, and wherein the cylindrical constraining member is most axially flexible about the first and second transverse axes relative to a remainder of the cylindrical constraining member; a third and fourth set of cut-outs adjacent and proximal to the central member section; and a proximal member section, adjacent and proximal to the fourth set of cut-outs, comprising a proximal end connected to the central member section via axially-aligned struts forming a fifth set of cut-outs that are circumferentially aligned, wherein a valve member is connected to the proximal member section at the axially-aligned struts. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A method of deploying at least one tubular prosthesis within a vessel, comprising:
-
sliding a plurality of tubular prostheses upon an inner shaft of a catheter; exposing a selected number of prostheses for deployment into the vessel; engaging at least one of the tubular prosthesis proximal to the selected number via a valve member positioned within a garage member mounted to the outer sheath along a length of the tubular prosthesis, wherein the garage member comprises a cylindrical constraining member comprises; a distal member section having no cut-outs such that a radial strength of the distal member section is sufficient to restrain the expandable member from expanding; a first set of cut-outs adjacent and proximal to the distal member section; a central member section, adjacent and proximal to the first set of cut-outs, having a second set of cut-outs with a repeating set of cut-out pairs, wherein one cut-out pair comprises two transverse slot-like cut-outs circumferentially aligned and separated by two connecting struts along a first transverse axis, wherein two adjacent connecting struts separate an adjacent cut-out pair along a second transverse axis, wherein the second transverse axis is offset from the first transverse axis, and wherein the cylindrical constraining member is most axially flexible about the first and second transverse axes relative to a remainder of the cylindrical constraining member; a third and fourth set of cut-outs adjacent and proximal to the central member section; and a proximal member section, adjacent and proximal to the fourth set of cut-outs, comprising a proximal end connected to the central member section via axially-aligned struts forming a fifth set of cut-outs that are circumferentially aligned, wherein a valve member is connected to the proximal member section at the axially-aligned struts; and retracting the outer sheath while engaging the at least one of the tubular prosthesis with the valve member such that a remainder of the tubular prosthesis within the outer sheath is spaced apart from the selected number for deployment. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
-
Specification