Stent-graft deployment apparatus and method

• US 20020045930A1
• Filed: 12/04/2001
• Published: 04/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Leopold, Eric, Reyes, Ramiro, Burg, Erik van der
• Application Number:
  US10/000,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20020045930A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/844 folded prior to deployment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires

Abstract

A stent or stent-graft deployment apparatus or mechanism configured so that, when activated, the stent or stent-graft progressively expands in a direction from its end which is proximally positioned to the deployment instrument, such as a percutaneous catheter, to its end which is distally positioned to the deployment instrument. The stent or stent-graft deployment mechanism includes a tether or slip line configuration which reduces the likelihood of snagging between the line and stent member. A method is also provided for deploying a stent or stent-graft within a mammalian lumen which includes expanding the stent or stent-graft in such a proximal-to-distal direction. The apparatus and method of the present invention minimize the likelihood of the stent or stent-graft from being displaced from the desired site before it is somewhat secured in the vessel during deployment.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a stent having a folded configuration, an unfolded configuration, and an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion, said upstream and downstream end portions being arranged relative to fluid flow when implanted at a desired site; and

a line releaseably coupled to said stent to hold said stent in its folded configuration, said line being arranged to be released so that said stent may progressively expand in a direction from said downstream end portion to said upstream end portion to return to said unfolded configuration.

2. A medical device comprising:

a stent having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and

a line releaseably coupled to said stent to hold said stent in a folded state, said line being arranged to be released wherein said stent progressively expands in a direction from said proximal portion to said distal portion.

3. The medical device of claim 2 wherein said line is arranged in a sack knot configuration.

4. The medical device of claim 3 wherein said sack knot configuration has a herringbone pattern.

5. The medical device of claim 2 wherein said line comprises a fixed end associated with said distal portion of said stent and a release end associated with said proximal portion of said stent, said release end being pullable to actuate expansion of said stent.

6. The medical device of claim 2 in combination with a deployment device wherein said proximal portion of said stent is positioned proximate to said deployment device and said distal portion of said stent is positioned distally with respect to said deployment device.

7. The medical device of claim 6 further including a graft coupled to said stent.

8. A stent assembly comprising:

a stent having a folded configuration, an unfolded configuration, and first and second end portions;

a delivery member coupled to said stent, said first end portion of said stent positioned adjacent to said delivery member and said second end portion of said stent positioned distally from said delivery member; and

a deployment mechanism coupled to said stent to hold said stent in said folded configuration, said deployment mechanism being arranged to be released from said stent progressively in a direction wherein said stent progressively obtains said unfolded configuration in a direction from said first end portion to said second end portion.

9. The stent assembly of claim 8 wherein said stent has at least one fold when in said folded configuration.

10. The stent assembly of claim 8 wherein said deployment mechanism is a tether line comprising a release end associated with said first end portion of said stent and a fixed end associated with said second end portion of said stent, said release end being pullable to actuate deployment of said stent.

11. The stent assembly of claim 10 wherein said delivery member comprises a tube and further wherein said release end of said tether line extends through said tube.

13. The stent-graft deployment device of claim 12 wherein said tether line comprises a first end associated with said shaft portion and a second end associated with said tip portion, said second end being pullable to actuate deployment of said stent-graft.

14. The stent-graft deployment device of claim 12 wherein said delivery member is a catheter assembly.

15. The stent-graft deployment device of claim 14 wherein said catheter assembly comprises a guidewire threaded therethrough for guiding said catheter assembly through said mammalian vasculature to said desired site, said guidewire extending from said shaft portion to said tip portion whereby said stent-graft is folded about said guidewire when in said constricted configuration.

16. The stent-graft deployment device of claim 15 wherein said catheter assembly comprises a proximal barrier and a distal barrier axially positioned on said guidewire, said proximal barrier being proximate to said shaft portion and said distal barrier being proximate said tip portion such that said stent-graft is axially held between said proximal and distal barriers when in said constricted configuration.

17. The stent-graft deployment device of claim 12 wherein said stent-graft comprises a helical member and a linking member, said helical member having multiple helical turns wherein adjacent turns are in phase with one another, and said linking member linking a number of adjacent helical turns to maintain said helical turns generally in phase with one another, and further wherein said tether line is releaseably coupled to said linking member.

18. The stent-graft deployment device of claim 17 wherein said linking member forms first and second rows of eyelets on said stent-graft, and wherein said tether line is threaded through a number of said eyelets and forming a herringbone pattern.

19. The stent-graft deployment device of claim 18 wherein said tether line comprises a release end associated with said shaft portion and said first row of eyelets, and further comprises a fixed end associated with said tip portion and said second row of eyelets, said release end being pullable to actuate deployment of said stent-graft.

12. A stent-graft deployment device comprising:

a generally tubular stent-graft having a constricted configuration and an expanded configuration;

a delivery member for placing said stent-graft in a desired site within mammalian vasculature, said delivery member having a shaft portion and a tip portion wherein said stent-graft is positioned between said tip portion and said shaft portion; and

a tether line releaseably coupled to said stent-graft to hold said stent-graft in said constricted configuration, said tether line being arranged to be released from said stent-graft progressively in a direction such that said stent-graft may progressively obtain said expanded configuration in a direction from said shaft portion to said tip portion of said delivery member.

20. A medical device comprising:

an expandable stent having a constricted configuration;

a delivery member for placing said stent in a desired site within mammalian vasculature, said delivery member having a shaft portion and a tip portion wherein said stent is positioned between said tip portion and said shaft portion; and

means for progressively deploying said stent, said means being releasably coupled to said stent in said constricted configuration and being arranged wherein said stent may progressively expand in a direction from said shaft portion to said tip portion of said delivery member when said means is released from said stent.

21. A method for deploying an expandable stent comprising the steps of:

placing a folded stent attached to a stent delivery member at a desired site within a mammalian lumen; and

progressively unfolding said stent in a direction away from said stent delivery member.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said stent is used in combination with a graft.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said stent delivery member is a catheter.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said slip line is pulled in a direction toward said catheter.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of progressively unfolding said stent in a direction away from said catheter.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said stent is used in combination with a graft

24. A method for deploying a stent comprising the steps of:

placing a folded stent at a desired site within a mammalian lumen by means of a catheter, said stent having a slip line releaseably attached thereto for holding said stent in said folded condition; and

pulling said slip line progressively in a direction such that said stent may progressively unfold in a direction away from said catheter.

28. A method for deploying an expandable stent comprising the steps of:

placing a folded stent at a desired site with fluid flow in a mammal; and

progressively expanding said stent in a direction against the fluid flow.