Intraluminal stent assembly and method of deploying the same

• US 20060030922A1
• Filed: 08/05/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Dolan, Mark J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,651,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts

Abstract

Intraluminal stent assemblies and methods of deploying the same. The assemblies include a catheter including at least one lumen formed therein. At least one inflatable member is disposed on the catheter and in communication with the lumen. The inflatable member includes at least one distal projection and/or at least one retention material. A stent is expandable from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration. The stent is disposed on the inflatable member in the compressed configuration. A sheath is slidably positioned over the stent wherein the stent expands to the expanded configuration upon retraction of the sheath. The inflatable member is inflated with a fluid flowing through the lumen. The at least one distal projection and/or at least one retention material retain the stent in position on the inflatable member while the stent is being deployed.

Claims

1. An intraluminal stent assembly comprising:

a catheter including at least one lumen formed therein;

at least one inflatable member disposed on the catheter and in communication with the lumen, the inflatable member comprising at least one distal projection;

a self-expanding stent expandable from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration, the stent disposed on the inflatable member in the compressed configuration;

a sheath slidably positioned over the stent wherein the stent expands to the expanded configuration upon retraction of the sheath;

wherein

the inflatable member is inflated with a fluid flowing through the lumen;

wherein

the distal projection retains the stent on the inflatable member while the stent is being deployed.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the inflatable member comprises a balloon.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the distal projection projects radially outward when the inflatable member is inflated.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the distal projection comprises a distal pillow member.

5. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a balloon positioned within the expanded stent to further expand the stent.

6. A method of deploying an intraluminal stent, the method comprising:

providing a self-expanding stent mounted on at least one inflatable member of an inflation catheter, the inflatable member comprising at least one distal projection;

positioning a sheath over the mounted stent;

positioning the mounted stent at a treatment site within a body lumen;

inflating the inflatable member;

retracting the sheath;

self-expanding the mounted stent;

retaining the stent during its expansion with the distal projection;

deflating the inflatable member; and

removing the inflation catheter from the body lumen whereby the expanded stent remains deployed at the treatment site in the body lumen.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the inflatable member comprises a balloon.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein inflating the inflatable member comprises projecting the distal projection radially outward.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein inflating the inflatable member comprises maintaining an inflation rate.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

positioning a compressed balloon within the deployed stent; and

expanding the compressed balloon to further expand the deployed stent.

11. An intraluminal stent assembly comprising:

a self-expanding stent mounted on at least one inflatable member of an inflation catheter; and

sheath means and retention means for retaining the stent on the inflatable member during stent deployment.

12. The assembly of claim 11 further comprising means for further expanding the deployed stent.

13. An intraluminal stent assembly comprising:

a catheter including at least one lumen formed therein;

at least one inflatable member disposed on the catheter and in communication with the lumen, the inflatable member comprising at least one retention material;

a self-expanding stent expandable from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration, the stent disposed on the inflatable member in the compressed configuration;

a sheath slidably positioned over the stent wherein the stent expands to the expanded configuration upon retraction of the sheath;

wherein

the inflatable member is inflated with a fluid flowing through the lumen;

wherein

the at least one retention material retains the stent on the inflatable member while the stent is being deployed.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the inflatable member comprises a balloon.

15. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the at least one retention material comprises at least one material selected from a group consisting of at least one adhesive and at least one surface feature.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the at least one surface feature comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting of bumps, ridges, and textures.

17. The assembly of claim 13 further comprising a balloon positioned within the expanded stent to further expand the stent.

18. A method of deploying an intraluminal stent, the method comprising:

providing a self-expanding stent mounted on at least one inflatable member of an inflation catheter, the inflatable member comprising at least one retention material;

positioning a sheath over the mounted stent;

positioning the mounted stent at a treatment site within a body lumen;

inflating the inflatable member;

retracting the sheath;

self-expanding the mounted stent;

retaining the stent during its expansion with the at least one retention material;

deflating the inflatable member; and

removing the inflation catheter from the body lumen whereby the stent remains deployed at the treatment site in the body lumen.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the inflatable member comprises a balloon.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein inflating the inflatable member comprises maintaining an inflation rate.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein retaining the stent during its expansion with the at least one retention material comprises adhesively retaining the stent.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein retaining the stent during its expansion with the at least one retention material comprises frictionally retaining the stent.

23. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

positioning a compressed balloon within the deployed stent; and

expanding the compressed balloon to further expand the deployed stent.