Apparatus for delivering endoluminal prosthesis and methods for preparing such apparatus for delivery
First Claim
1. An apparatus for delivering a prosthesis into a body lumen of a patient, comprising:
- a tubular member comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion having a size for insertion into a body lumen, and an intermediate portion between the proximal and distal portions, each portion comprising a wall defining a lumen extending between the proximal and distal portions, the wall of the distal portion comprising material allowing observation of the lumen within the distal portion;
a prosthesis disposed within the tubular member proximal to the distal portion; and
a bumper member comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the bumper member being slidably disposed within the lumen of the tubular member, the distal end being disposed adjacent a proximal end of the prosthesis for preventing axial displacement of the prosthesis upon retraction of the tubular member such that the prosthesis may be moved at least partially into the distal portion, whereupon the prosthesis may be observed through the wall of the distal portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A delivery apparatus includes a tubular sheath including proximal, intermediate, and distal portions defining a lumen. A wall of the distal portion is transparent, allowing observation of the lumen within the distal portion. The distal portion terminates in a rounded distal tip including a plurality of leaflets. A self-expanding stent is disposed within the intermediate portion, and a bumper member is slidably disposed within the lumen proximate the stent. Before use, the sheath is retracted to bump the stent forward into the distal portion until the stent is observed within the distal portion. After the apparatus has been pre-loaded, the distal portion is advanced into a blood vessel, e.g., across a stenosis, and the sheath is retracted, causing the leaflets to open and allow the stent to be deployed, whereupon the stent automatically expands to dilate the stenosis.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An apparatus for delivering a prosthesis into a body lumen of a patient, comprising:
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a tubular member comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion having a size for insertion into a body lumen, and an intermediate portion between the proximal and distal portions, each portion comprising a wall defining a lumen extending between the proximal and distal portions, the wall of the distal portion comprising material allowing observation of the lumen within the distal portion;
a prosthesis disposed within the tubular member proximal to the distal portion; and
a bumper member comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the bumper member being slidably disposed within the lumen of the tubular member, the distal end being disposed adjacent a proximal end of the prosthesis for preventing axial displacement of the prosthesis upon retraction of the tubular member such that the prosthesis may be moved at least partially into the distal portion, whereupon the prosthesis may be observed through the wall of the distal portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for delivering a prosthesis into a body lumen of a patient, comprising:
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a tubular member comprising a proximal portion, a distal portion having a size for insertion into a body lumen, and an intermediate portion between the proximal and distal portions, each portion comprising a wall defining a lumen extending between the proximal and distal portions, the wall of the distal portion comprising material allowing observation of the lumen within the distal portion;
a self-expanding prosthesis disposed within the tubular member proximal to the distal portion;
a bumper member comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the bumper member being slidably disposed within the lumen of the tubular member, the distal end being disposed adjacent a proximal end of the prosthesis for preventing axial displacement of the prosthesis upon retraction of the tubular member such that the tubular member may be retracted until at least a portion of the prosthesis is observed through the distal portion; and
an actuator coupled to the tubular member and the bumper member, the actuator configured for retracting the tubular member relative to the bumper member, the actuator maintaining the tubular member under tension when the tubular member is retracted. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for preparing a delivery apparatus comprising a tubular member comprising a distal portion having a size for insertion into a body lumen, the distal portion comprising material allowing observation of a lumen of the tubular member within the distal portion, and a prosthesis disposed within the lumen proximal to the distal portion, the method comprising:
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retracting the tubular member proximally with respect to the prosthesis; and
ceasing retraction when at least a portion of the prosthesis is observed within the distal portion of the tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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27. A method for preparing a delivery apparatus comprising a tubular member comprising a lumen extending between proximal and distal portions, the distal portion having a size for insertion into a body lumen, and a prosthesis defining a length disposed within the lumen proximal to the distal portion, the method comprising:
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retracting the tubular member proximally with respect to the prosthesis; and
ceasing retraction when the tubular member has moved a distance at least as long as the length of the prosthesis but before the prosthesis has emerged from a distal tip of the distal portion.
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33. A method for delivering a prosthesis into a body lumen of a patient using a delivery apparatus comprising a tubular member including a distal portion comprising material allowing observation of a lumen of the tubular member within the distal portion, and a prosthesis disposed within the lumen proximal to the distal portion, the method comprising:
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retracting the tubular member initially relative to the prosthesis;
ceasing retraction when at least a portion of the prosthesis is observed within the distal portion of the tubular member;
advancing the distal portion of the tubular member into the body lumen;
retracting the tubular member further to eject the prosthesis from the lumen and into the body lumen. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification