Loading cartridge for self-expanding stent

• US 20030083730A1
• Filed: 10/25/2001
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Scimed Life Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Stinson, Jonathan S.
• Application Number:
  US09/983,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20030083730A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9522 Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9525 using a funnel

Abstract

A device for loading a stent into a stent delivery system may comprise a tubular member, a funnel at least partially disposed in the tubular member, and a stent disposed in the tubular member. A distal portion of the funnel may separate a proximal portion of the stent from an inner surface of the tubular member.

Claims

1. A loading cartridge for a stent delivery system, the loading cartridge comprising:

a tubular member;

a holding sleeve associated with an inner surface of the tubular member;

a funnel at least partially disposed in the tubular member; and

a stent spaced from and disposed in the tubular member.

2. The loading cartridge of claim 1, wherein the stent is associated with at least one of the holding sleeve and the funnel.

3. The loading cartridge of claim 2, wherein the stent is associated with an inner surface of the holding sleeve.

4. The loading cartridge of claim 2, wherein the stent is associated with an inner surface of the funnel.

5. The loading cartridge of claim 1, wherein the stent is axially restrained by the holding sleeve.

6. The loading cartridge of claim 1, wherein the funnel is configured to connect with a catheter.

7. The loading cartridge of claim 1, wherein the stent comprises a self-expanding stent.

8. The loading cartridge of claim 1, wherein the stent comprises a radially-expanded position while disposed in the tubular member.

9. The loading cartridge of claim 1, wherein the funnel comprises a maximum inside diameter in the tubular member and a minimum inside diameter outside of the tubular member.

10. The loading cartridge of claim 9, wherein the maximum inside diameter of the funnel is less than an inside diameter of the holding sleeve.

11. A method of loading a stent onto a stent delivery system, comprising:

connecting a loading cartridge to a catheter, the loading cartridge containing a stent in a radially-expanded configuration; and

funneling the stent onto the catheter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said funneling the stent comprises:

moving an outer member of the catheter towards the stent; and

radially compressing the stent with a funnel.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said radially compressing comprises radially compressing the stent to a diameter configured to enter the outer member of the catheter.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

removing an outer member of the loading cartridge from the funnel and the stent.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising moving the outer member of the catheter, after said removing, until the stent is radially-compressed and covered by the outer member of the catheter along its entire length.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising removing the funnel from the stent.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said connecting comprises connecting the funnel to the outer member of the catheter.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising restraining axial movement of the stent relative to the cartridge.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising contacting the stent with a holding sleeve associated with the catheter.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising restraining axial movement of the stent relative to the holding sleeve.

21. A device for loading a stent into a stent delivery system, comprising:

a tubular member;

a funnel at least partially disposed in the tubular member; and

a stent disposed in the tubular member, wherein a distal portion of the funnel separates a proximal portion of the stent from an inner surface of the tubular member.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the stent is axially restrained in the tubular member.

23. The device of claim 21, further comprising a holding sleeve within the tubular member, the holding sleeve separating the stent from the inner surface of the tubular member.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the stent is axially restrained by the holding sleeve.

25. The device of claim 21, wherein the funnel is configured to connect with a catheter.

26. The device of claim 21, wherein the stent comprises a self-expanding stent.

27. The device of claim 21, wherein the stent comprises a radially-expanded position while disposed in the tubular member.

28. The device of claim 23, wherein the funnel comprises a maximum inside diameter in the tubular member and a minimum inside diameter outside of the tubular member.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the maximum inside diameter of the funnel is less than an inside diameter of the holding sleeve.

30. A method of loading a stent onto a stent delivery system, comprising:

providing a stent within a tubular member, wherein a distal end of a funnel separates at least a portion of the stent from the tubular member;

attaching a proximal end of the funnel to a catheter; and

moving the stent through the funnel and onto the catheter.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said providing a stent comprises providing the stent in a radially-expanded configuration.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said moving the stent comprises:

moving an outer member of the catheter towards the stent; and

radially compressing the stent with the funnel.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said radially compressing comprises radially compressing the stent to a diameter configured to enter the outer member of the catheter.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

removing an outer member of the tubular member from the funnel and the stent.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising moving the outer member of the catheter, after said removing, until the stent is radially-compressed and covered by the outer member of the catheter along its entire length.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising removing the funnel from the stent.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein said attaching comprises attaching the funnel to the outer member of the catheter.

38. The method of claim 30, further comprising restraining axial movement of the stent relative to the tubular member.

39. The method of claim 30, wherein said moving the stent comprises contacting the stent with a holding sleeve associated with the catheter.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising restraining axial movement of the stent relative to the holding sleeve.

41. A stent delivery system, comprising:

a catheter;

a funnel, a proximal end of the funnel being attached at a distal end of the catheter;

a tubular member, the funnel being at least partially disposed in the tubular member; and

a stent disposed in the tubular member, wherein a distal portion of the funnel separates a proximal portion of the stent from an inner surface of the tubular member.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the catheter comprises an outer member, the funnel being attached to a distal end of the outer member.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the stent is axially restrained in the tubular member.

44. The system of claim 41, further comprising a holding sleeve within the tubular member, the holding sleeve separating the stent from the inner surface of the tubular member.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the stent is axially restrained by the holding sleeve.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein the funnel is configured to connect with a catheter.

47. The system of claim 41, wherein the stent comprises a self-expanding stent.

48. The system of claim 41, wherein the stent comprises a radially-expanded position while disposed in the tubular member.

49. The system of claim 44, wherein the funnel comprises a maximum inside diameter in the tubular member and a minimum inside diameter outside of the tubular member.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the maximum inside diameter of the funnel is less than an inside diameter of the holding sleeve.