Delivery mechanism for implantable stents-grafts

• US 20030144671A1
• Filed: 02/04/2003
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Bard Peripheral Vascular Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Randall, Scott L., McCrea, Brendan J., Brooks, Christopher J., Royen, Donald Van
• Granted Patent: US 7,122,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod

Abstract

A delivery mechanism for an implantable stent which provides a high mechanical advantage to the surgeon and convenient operation so as to facilitate smooth withdrawal of an outer catheter sheath following placement of the stent in the desired location within the patient'"'"'s vessel. Preferred embodiments include a moving rail actuated by a V-shaped lever, a hydraulic actuator, a rack and pinion drive, and a power screw system. The delivery mechanism has a movable member that is attached to the outer catheter sheath so that actuating the mechanism results in an incremental movement of the moveable member, which in turn results in an incremental movement of the outer catheter sheath. Once the outer catheter sheath is retracted from the stent, the stent is deployed into the patient'"'"'s vessel and the remaining parts of the mechanism, including an inner tube, an atraumatic tip, and a stabilizing element, are easily removed.

Claims

1. A stent deployment system for introducing a self-expanding stent into a body vessel, comprising:

an inner catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being attached to a tip, the inner catheter permitting passage of a guidewire therethrough;

a reinforcing spring element surrounding the inner catheter for resisting compression and providing flexibility for moving through a body vessel;

an abutment element attached to a distal end of the reinforcing spring element for preventing axial movement of the self-expanding stent in a proximal direction; and

an outer catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being attached to a movable member, the distal end surrounding the self-expanding stent, wherein movement of the movable member retracts the outer catheter to release the self-expanding stent.