Guidewire loaded stent for delivery through a catheter

• US 20060116750A1
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Back Bay Medical Incorporated (Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Counter Clockwise Inc.
• Inventors: Hebert, Stephen, Levine, Marc-Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,641,748 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 2002/9583 Means for holding the stent on the balloon, e.g. using protrusions, adhesives or an outer sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09008 having a balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09183 having tools at the distal tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

A guidewire loaded stent for delivery through a catheter is described herein. The stent delivery assembly can deliver and place a stent within tortuous regions of the body which are accessible to guidewires but inaccessible to stenting catheters. The assembly comprises a guidewire covered in part by a retractable sheath and a radially expandable stent near or at the distal end of the guidewire. The whole assembly is advanced through conventional catheters or it may be used alone. In either case, when the stent is adjacent to a treatment site within the body, the sheath is retracted proximally to expose the stent for radial expansion into contact with the vessel wall. Radio-opaque marker bands are optionally located on either side or both sides of the stent on the guidewire body to aid in visual placement. The assembly can optionally include an expandable balloon on the guidewire for different treatment modalities.

Claims

1-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A stent delivery system comprising:

a stent movable from a first delivery position to a second placement position, in the first delivery position the stent being in a compressed position and having a first diameter and in the second position the stent being in a radially expanded position and having a second diameter greater than the first diameter for placement at a treatment site of a patient;

an elongate guidewire configured for guiding and carrying the stent to the treatment site of the patient, the stent mounted on the elongate guidewire and carried by the guidewire to the treatment site for placement, the elongate guidewire having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length therebetween;

a first member extending radially from the guidewire; and

a second member extending radially from the guidewire, the second radially extending member positioned distal of the first radially extending member, the first and second radially extending members defining a first portion of the guidewire therebetween, a diameter of the first radially extending member and a diameter of the second radially extending member being greater than a diameter of the first portion of the guidewire, the stent positioned between the first radially extending member and the second radially extending member.

24. The stent delivery system of claim 23, wherein the first portion of the guidewire is tapered.

25. The stent delivery system of claim 23, wherein the first portion of the guidewire is stepped.

26. The stent delivery system of claim 23, further comprising a tubular constraining member constraining the stent, wherein exposure of the stent from the tubular member enables the stent to move from the first compressed delivery position to a radially expanded position for placement at the treatment site, and the guidewire is removable from the treatment site when the stent is in the radially expanded placement position.

27. The stent delivery system of claim 26, wherein the tubular constraining member is retracted proximally to expose the stent.

28. The stent delivery system of claim 23, wherein the first and second members comprise radiopaque marker bands.

29. The stent delivery system of claim 23, further comprising an expandable angioplasty balloon mounted on the guidewire distally of the stent.

30. The stent delivery system of claim 29, further comprising a coil placed distally of the balloon.

31. The stent delivery system of claim 26, wherein the guidewire is advanced distally from the constraining member to expose the stent.

32. The stent delivery system of claim 26, wherein the constraining member includes drainage ports formed in a wall adjacent the first portion of the guidewire.

33. A stent delivery system comprising:

a stent movable from a first delivery position to a second placement position, in the first delivery position the stent being in a compressed position and having a first diameter and in the second position the stent being in a radially expanded position and having a second diameter greater than the first diameter for placement at a treatment site of a patient;

an elongate flexible guide having a distal portion, a proximal portion and an intermediate portion therebetween, the stent mounted coaxially with respect to the elongate guide, the elongate guide configured to provide access to the surgical site without being placed over a guidewire, the elongate guide configured to guide and carry the stent to the treatment site of the patient; and

a tubular constraining member overlying a least a portion of the stent to constrain the stent in the compressed position for delivery to the surgical site, wherein relative movement of the tubular constraining member and the elongate guide exposes the stent from the tubular member and enables the stent to move from the first compressed delivery position to a radially expanded position for placement at the treatment site, and the guide is removable from the treatment site when the stent is in the radially expanded placement position.

34. The stent delivery system of claim 33, wherein the guide comprises a hypotube.

35. The stent delivery system of claim 34, wherein the hypotube has a tapered section.

36. The stent delivery system of claim 34, wherein the hypotube has a diameter ranging from 0.007 to 0.014 inches.

37. The stent delivery system of claim 33, wherein the constraining member includes drainage ports formed in a wall near a region of the guide mounting the stent.

38. The stent delivery system of claim 33, further comprising an expandable angioplasty balloon positioned on the guide distally of the stent.

39. The stent delivery system of claim 33, wherein the stent is mounted on a stepped portion of the guide.