Apparatus for delivering endoluminal prostheses and methods of making and using them

• US 20050283222A1
• Filed: 08/03/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Endotex Interventional Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Endotex Interventional Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Yang, Yi, Gillis, Edward M., Betelia, Rainier, Rourke, Jonathan M.
• Application Number:
  US11/197,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20050283222A1
• 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 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable

Abstract

An apparatus for delivering a stent into a blood vessel includes a sheath having a rounded bullet-shaped distal portion including a plurality of flexible leaflets integrally molded thereto. The stent is disposed in its contracted condition within a lumen of the sheath proximate the distal portion. A bumper is slidably disposed within the lumen that includes a helical compression coil, a bumper element attached to the helical coil including a blunt distal edge for abutting the stent, and an extension element extending distally from the bumper element through the stent and between the leaflets to facilitate introducing the apparatus over a guidewire. The sheath is formed by inserting a bullet into a blunt-ended tube, and inserting the tube into a bullet-shaped bore in a heated die until the tube material is softened and deforms into a rounded bullet shape. Slits are then cut into the distal portion to create the leaflets.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivering a prosthesis into a blood vessel of a patient, comprising:

an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the distal end having a size for endoluminal insertion into a blood vessel and terminating in a substantially atraumatic distal portion comprising a plurality of flexible leaflets integrally molded thereto, the leaflets being deflectable, without exposure to a softening liquid, from a closed position wherein the leaflets engage one another to an open position wherein the leaflets define an opening communicating with the lumen;

a tubular prosthesis disposed within the lumen proximate the distal portion; and

an elongate bumper member having a proximal end and a distal end, the bumper member being slidably disposed within the lumen of the elongate tubular member, the distal end of the bumper member having a blunt edge disposed adjacent the proximal end of the prosthesis for preventing axial displacement of the prosthesis upon retraction of the tubular member with respect to the bumper member;

wherein adjacent leaflets are connected to one another by weakened regions, the weakened regions being tearable upon retraction of the tubular member with respect to the prosthesis to allow the leaflets to be deflected towards the open position.

2. An apparatus for delivering a prosthesis into a blood vessel of a patient, comprising:

an elongate tubular member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, the distal end having a size for endoluminal insertion into a blood vessel and terminating in a substantially atraumatic distal portion comprising a plurality of flexible leaflets integrally molded thereto, the leaflets being deflectable, without exposure to a softening liquid, from a closed position wherein the leaflets engage one another to an open position wherein the leaflets define an opening communicating with the lumen;

a tubular prosthesis disposed within the lumen proximate the distal portion; and

an elongate bumper member having a proximal end and a distal end, the bumper member being slidably disposed within the lumen of the elongate tubular member, the distal end of the bumper member having a blunt edge disposed adjacent the proximal end of the prosthesis for preventing axial displacement of the prosthesis upon retraction of the tubular member with respect to the bumper member;

wherein the leaflets include a portion having a thickness that is substantially thinner than a wall thickness of the distal portion of the tubular member from which the leaflets extend.