Stent delivery system and method of use

• US 20060184224A1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Angel, Luis F
• Granted Patent: US 9,655,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/2676 Bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/04 Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; devices, other than stent-grafts, providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body other than stent-grafts, e.g. stents A61F2/82; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• 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 2002/043 Bronchi

Abstract

A stent delivery system may be used to position a stent in a body lumen. An endoscope may be positionable in the stent delivery system facilitating direct visual observation during placement of the stent. The stent delivery system may include a first conduit, wherein the endoscope is positionable. A second conduit, wherein the first conduit is positionable, may function to releasably position the stent in the body lumen during use. The stent delivery system may include a lock that functions to inhibit movement of the first conduit relative to the second conduit during use. Retraction of the distal end of the second conduit, relative to the first conduit and the stent, may deploy the stent in a body lumen. Indicia, visibly positioned on the proximal end of the stent delivery system, may function to facilitate determination of an extent of deployment of the stent during use.

Claims

1-28. -28. (canceled)

29. A stent delivery system comprising:

a first conduit, wherein at least a portion of an endoscope is positionable in the first conduit during use; and

a second conduit, wherein at least a portion of the first conduit is positionable in the second conduit, wherein the second conduit is configured to contain at least a portion of a stent between the distal ends of the first and the second conduits, and wherein the second conduit is configurable to releasably position the stent in a body lumen during use.

31. The stent delivery system of claim 29, further comprising:

a first lock configurable to inhibit movement of the first conduit relative to the second conduit during use; and

a second lock configurable to inhibit movement of the endoscope relative to the first conduit during use.

32. The stent delivery system of claim 29, further comprising a lock configurable to inhibit movement of the first conduit relative to the second conduit during use, wherein the lock comprises a ratcheted guiding system.

33. The stent delivery system of claim 29, further comprising a lock configurable to inhibit movement of the first conduit relative to the second conduit during use, wherein the lock comprises:

a first grip coupled to at least a portion of the first conduit; and

a second grip coupled to at least a portion of the second conduit;

wherein at least a portion of the first grip is configurable to inhibit movement of the second grip in a direction toward a proximal end of the stent delivery system beyond the portion of the first grip.

34. The stent delivery system of claim 29, further comprising a lock configurable to inhibit movement of the first conduit relative to the second conduit during use, wherein the lock comprises:

a first grip coupled to at least a portion of the first conduit;

a second grip coupled to at least a portion of the second conduit; and

one or more pins coupled to the first conduit, wherein at least one of the pins is configurable to inhibit portions of the first and second conduits from moving transversely to each other;

wherein at least a portion of the first grip is configurable to inhibit movement of the second grip in a direction toward a proximal end of the stent delivery system beyond the portion of the first grip.

35. The stent delivery system of claim 29, further comprising a lock configurable to inhibit movement of the first conduit relative to the second conduit during use, wherein the lock comprises:

a first grip coupled to at least a portion of the first conduit;

a second grip coupled to at least a portion of the second conduit; and

one or more ratchet stops coupled to the second conduit, wherein at least one of the ratchet stops inhibits movement of the second grip relative to the second conduit in a direction toward a proximal end of the stent delivery system;

wherein at least a portion of the first grip is configurable to inhibit movement of the second grip in a direction toward a proximal end of the stent delivery system beyond the portion of the first grip.

36. The stent delivery system of claim 29, further comprising a lock configurable to inhibit movement of the first conduit relative to the second conduit during use, wherein the lock comprises:

a first grip coupled to at least a portion of the first conduit;

a second grip coupled to at least a portion of the second conduit;

one or more ratchet stops coupled to the second conduit, wherein at least one of the ratchet stops inhibits movement of the second grip relative to the second conduit in a direction toward a proximal end of the stent delivery system; and

a separator coupled to the first grip, wherein the separator is configurable to facilitate movement of at least a portion of the second conduit beyond a distal end of the first grip;

wherein at least a portion of the first grip is configurable to inhibit movement of the second grip in a direction toward a proximal end of the stent delivery system beyond the portion of the first grip.

37. The stent delivery system of claim 29, further comprising a lock configurable to inhibit movement of the first conduit relative to the second conduit during use.

38. The stent delivery system of claim 29, further comprising a lock configurable to inhibit movement of the first conduit relative to the second conduit during use, wherein the lock comprises a clamp.

40. The stent delivery system of claim 29, further comprising a lock configurable to inhibit movement of the first conduit relative to the second conduit during use, wherein the lock comprises:

a grip coupled to at least a portion of the proximal end of the second conduit, wherein the first conduit is positionable in the grip;

an opening in the grip; and

a pin coupled to the first conduit, wherein the pin is positionable in the opening in the grip, and wherein the pin and opening function in combination to limit longitudinal movement to within a specified range.

42. The stent delivery system of claim 29, further comprising a stop positioned approximate the distal end of the stent delivery system between the first and second conduits, wherein the stop is configured to inhibit movement of the stent in a proximal direction relative to the first conduit.

43. The stent delivery system of claim 29, wherein the second conduit comprises an inner layer coupled to an outer layer.

44. The stent delivery system of claim 29, wherein the second conduit comprises an inner layer coupled to an outer layer, wherein at least the outer layer of the second conduit is coupled to a grip.

45. The stent delivery system of claim 29, wherein at least a portion of the first conduit is partially flexible.

46. The stent delivery system of claim 29, wherein at least a portion of the second conduit is partially flexible.

48. The stent delivery system of claim 29, wherein at least a portion of the first conduit is configured to inhibit collapse of the first conduit upon removal of the endoscope during use.

49. The stent delivery system of claim 29, wherein at least a portion of the second conduit is configured to inhibit collapse of the second conduit.

50. The stent delivery system of claim 29, wherein the endoscope comprises a bronchoscope, and wherein the at least a portion of the bronchoscope is partially flexible.

51. The stent delivery system of claim 29, wherein the stent comprises a pulmonary stent.

52. The stent delivery system of claim 29, wherein the first conduit comprises a coiled spring.

53. The stent delivery system of claim 29, wherein the first conduit comprises a polymer.

54. The stent delivery system of claim 29, wherein the second conduit comprises a polymer.

59. The stent delivery system of claim 29, further comprising indicia, wherein at least a portion of the indicia are visibly positioned on the proximal end of the stent delivery system, and wherein the indicia are configurable to facilitate determination of an extent of deployment of the stent.

30. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

41. (canceled)

47. (canceled)

55. (canceled)

56. A pulmonary stent delivery system comprising:

a first conduit, wherein at least a portion of a bronchoscope is positionable in the first conduit during use;

a second conduit, wherein at least a portion of the first conduit is positionable in the second conduit, wherein the second conduit is configured to contain at least a portion of the stent between the distal ends of the first and the second conduits, and wherein the second conduit is configurable to releasably position the stent in an air passage during use.

57. A method for positioning a stent comprising:

inserting at least a portion of a stent delivery system in a body lumen;

positioning a distal end of the stent delivery system in the body lumen;

visually observing the positioning of the distal end of the stent delivery system using an endoscope positionable in a first conduit of the stent delivery system;

releasing a lock configurable to inhibit movement of the first conduit relative to a second conduit, wherein the first conduit is positionable in the second conduit; and

retracting the second conduit relative to the first conduit.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein retracting the second conduit relative to the first conduit comprises deploying the stent in the body lumen.