Instrument for implanting vascular prostheses

• US 20040249433A1
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Freitag, Lutz
• Granted Patent: US 7,785,360 B2
• 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 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable

Abstract

An instrument for implanting an expandable cylindrical vascular prosthesis includes an outer tube and an inner tube which can be displaced relative to one another. The inner tube is longitudinally slotted on the distal end, at least in an area thereof, and ensheathes the stent with this area which includes the longitudinal slot. In order to implant the stent, the outer tube is retracted. The stent then expands with continuous retracting movement of the outer tube and the inner tube is pressed open along the longitudinal slot. Implantation is terminated, when the outer tube is retracted along the entire length of the stent. The implantation is reversible by pushing the outer tube forward, as long as the stent has not yet fully exited the instrument. In this way, the inner tube is constricted together with the stent, and compressed to an initial position.

Claims

1. An instrument for implanting an expandable cylindrical vascular prosthesis, in particular a stent or an endoprosthesis, comprising an outer tube (3) and an inner tube (4) which are moveable relative to one another, wherein the inner tube (4) has a distal end which is longitudinally slotted at least in an area (8) thereof, to provide a longitudinal slot, and wherein said area (8) of the inner tube (4) with the longitudinal slot ensheathes the vascular prosthesis (2).

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the inner tube (4) has a circumference, said longitudinal slot (6) being continued by a circular slot (7) which extends over a portion of the circumference of the inner tube (4).

3. The instrument of claim 1 and further comprising a loading aid (10) is provided on one end (9) of the outer tube (3) for radial constriction of the vascular prosthesis (2) disposed in the inner tube (4).

4. The instrument of claim 3, wherein the loading aid is constructed so as to be coolable.

5. An instrument for implanting an expandable vascular prosthesis, comprising an outer tube and an inner tube which are moveable relative to one another, said inner tube including a slot extending inwardly from one end along a predetermined length to define an area for receiving a vascular prosthesis.

6. The instrument of claim 5, wherein the inner tube has a circumference, said slot terminating in a circular slot which extends over a portion of the circumference of the inner tube.

7. The instrument of claim 5, and further comprising a loading aid provided on one end of the outer tube for radial constriction of the vascular prosthesis in the inner tube.

8. The instrument of claim 7, wherein the loading aid has means for allowing a cooling thereof.

9. The instrument of claim 5, wherein the inner and outer tubes are made of flexible material.

10. The instrument of claim 5, wherein the inner and outer tubes are made of Teflon.

11. The instrument of claim 7, wherein the outer tube has a funnel-shaped configuration.

12. The instrument of claim 7, wherein the loading aid is an integral part of the outer tube.

13. The instrument of claim 7, wherein the loading aid is a separate part from the outer tube.

14. A method of deploying a vascular prosthesis in a lumen of a person'"'"'s body, comprising the steps of:

a) placing a vascular prosthesis in an inner tube of a delivery instrument;

b) moving an outer tube of the delivery instrument over the inner tube to compress the inner tube and the contained vascular prosthesis;

c) positioning the delivery instrument in a region of a stenosis;

d) retracting the outer tube relative to the inner tube to thereby allow the vascular prosthesis to expand and to thereby distend the inner tube on one side along a longitudinal slot formed in the inner tube; and

e) continuing retraction of the outer tube until the vascular prosthesis is fully expanded.

15. The method of claim 14, and further comprising the step of pushing the outer tube relative to the inner tube before step e) to re-compress the vascular prosthesis.