Deployment system for an expandable device

• US 20050033402A1
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Cully, Edward H., Flury, Keith M., Vonesh, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,556,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9662 the middle portion of the stent or stent-graft is released first
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a deployment system for an endoluminal device. The deployment system includes a confining sheath placed around a compacted endoluminal device. A deployment line is provided in the system that is an integral extension of the sheath. As the deployment line is actuated, the sheath retracts from around the compacted endoluminal device. As the sheath retracts from around the endoluminal device, material from the sheath may be converted into deployment line. Once the sheath is retracted from around the compacted endoluminal device, the endoluminal device expands in configuration and repairs vascular or cardiac structures of an implant recipient. Any remaining sheath material is removed from the implantation site along with the deployment line. The deployment system also includes an endo-prosthesis mounting member placed between the endoluminal device and an underlying catheter. The endo-prosthesis mounting member serves to cushion and retain the endoluminal device when constrained by the sheath and may assist in expansion of the endoluminal device when unconstrained by the sheath. The present invention is also directed to a deployment system having a deployment assembly that simultaneously expands an endo-prosthesis mounting member while removing a sheath from an expandable medical device.

Claims

1. An implantation system for a medical device comprising:

an endoprosthesis mounting member;

an expandable medical device placed over said endoprosthesis mounting member;

a constraint placed over at least a portion of said expandable medical device; and

a delivery catheter incorporating said endoprosthesis mounting member, constraint, and expandable medical device;

wherein said expandable medical device is deployed by simultaneous retraction of said constraint from said expandable medical device and expansion of said endoprosthesis mounting member.

2. The implantation system of claim 1 further comprising a pressurizable chamber attached to said system in fluid communication with said endoprosthesis mounting member.

3. The implantation system of claim 2 wherein said pressurizable chamber comprises a diaphragm having a compressible material in contact with said diaphragm.

4. The implantation system of claim 3 wherein said compressible material is a spring.

5. The implantation system of claim 3 wherein said compressible material is a gas.

6. The implantation system of claim 3 wherein said compressible material is a polymeric material.

7. A medical device deployment system comprising:

a catheter tube having a proximal end, a length, and a distal end;

an endoprosthesis mounting member placed on said distal end of said catheter tube; and

an expandable medical device placed over said endoprosthesis mounting member and covered with an overlying retractable sheath, said sheath incorporating a deployment line running inside said catheter tube and attached to an actuator at said proximal end of said catheter tube, wherein said actuator is coupled to a means in fluid communication with a lumen of said endoprosthesis mounting member for expanding said endoprosthesis mounting member, whereby said endoprosthesis mounting member is expanded simultaneously with retraction of said overlying sheath from said expandable medical device.

8. The deployment assembly of claim 7 further comprising a pressure-storage chamber in fluid communication with said means for expanding said endoprosthesis mounting member.

9. The medical device deployment system of claim 7 further comprising a gas bladder placed within said means for expanding said endoprosthesis mounting member.

10. A deployment assembly for a catheter-based delivery system comprising:

a container defining a first pressurizable chamber, said first pressurizable chamber having an opening therein configured to attach to a delivery catheter having an endoprosthesis mounting member incorporated thereon and provide fluid communication between said first pressurizable chamber and a lumen of said endoprosthesis mounting member;

a movable plunger placed within said first pressurizable chamber to establish and maintain fluid pressure in said endoprosthesis mounting member lumen when said plunger is moved; and

a deployment line actuator coupled to said movable plunger.

11. The deployment assembly of claim 10 wherein said plunger is incrementally moved with a mechanism employing spirally oriented inclined threads.

12. The deployment assembly of claim 10 wherein said deployment line actuator is a rack and pinion gear.

13. The deployment assembly of claim 10 wherein said deployment line actuator is a reel.

14. The deployment assembly of claim 10 wherein said deployment line actuator is a pulley.

15. The deployment assembly of claim 12, wherein said deployment line actuator is coupled to said incrementally moveable plunger mechanism with an axle and bevel gear attached thereto.

16. The deployment assembly of claim 13, or wherein said deployment line actuator is coupled to said incrementally moveable plunger mechanism with an axle and bevel gear attached thereto.

17. The deployment assembly of claim 14 wherein said deployment line actuator is coupled to said incrementally moveable plunger mechanism with an axle and bevel gear attached thereto.

18. The deployment assembly of claim 10 further comprising a third pressurizable chamber in fluid communication with said first pressurizable chamber, wherein said third pressurizable chamber houses a deployment line actuator.

19. The deployment assembly of claim 18 wherein said deployment line actuator is a piston.