Force distributing system for delivering a self-expanding stent

• US 20060184225A1
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Pryor, Jack
• Application Number:
  US11/056,816
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184225A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91508 the meander having a difference in amplitude along the band
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91541 Adjacent bands are arranged out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/91558 connected peak to peak
• 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: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means

Abstract

The invention provides a system that distributes along the length of a stent those forces exerted on the stent during release of the stent from a sheath. The system includes a catheter inner member, a stent, and a sheath. Multiple longitudinally spaced protrusions extend from the outer surface of a distal portion of the inner member. Complementary longitudinally spaced apertures are formed in the wall of the stent. The stent is mounted on the inner member with the inner member protrusions received within the stent apertures. The sheath encloses the stent and is movable with respect to the stent. The system is assembled by aligning the protrusions and apertures and radially compressing the stent about the inner member. The resulting interlocked protrusions and apertures allow the stent to be withdrawn from a radial compression device into the sheath by pulling on the inner member.

Claims

1. A system for treating a vascular condition, comprising:

a catheter inner member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion having a plurality of longitudinally spaced protrusions extending from an outer surface of the distal portion;

a stent having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures formed in a wall of the stent, the stent mounted on the inner member such that the inner member protrusions are received within the stent apertures; and

a sheath movably enclosing the stent.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the inner member protrusions are formed as an integral part of the inner member distal portion.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the inner member protrusions are formed separately and attached to the inner member distal portion.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of each inner member protrusion is radiopaque.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the inner member distal portion is bonded to the inner member proximal portion.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the apertures are formed between crowns of the stent.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the apertures are formed within crowns of the stent.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the stent apertures are evenly distributed along the length of the stent.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the height of each inner member protrusion over the adjacent inner member surface is substantially equal to the thickness of the stent wall.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the number of stent apertures corresponds to the number of inner member protrusions.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the stent is a self-expanding stent.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the stent comprises a material selected from a group consisting of a nickel-titanium alloy, a nickel-cobalt alloy, a cobalt alloy, a thermoset plastic, stainless steel, a stainless steel alloy, a biocompatible shape-memory material, a biocompatible superelastic material, and a combination thereof.

13. A method of assembling a system for treating a vascular condition, the method comprising:

positioning a catheter inner member distal portion having a plurality of longitudinally spaced protrusions within a stent having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures;

aligning the inner member protrusions with the stent apertures;

radially compressing the stent about the inner member distal portion such that each inner member protrusion is received within a stent aperture; and

positioning the stent and at least a portion of the inner member distal portion within a sheath.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein aligning the inner member protrusions with the stent apertures comprises:

radially compressing the stent to an interim configuration; and

rotating the inner member until the inner member protrusions engage the stent apertures.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the stent is radially compressed to an interim configuration prior to positioning the catheter inner member within the stent.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein positioning the stent within a sheath comprises pulling on a proximal portion of the inner member to position the stent within the sheath.

17. A method of treating a vascular condition, the method comprising:

delivering a sheathed stent to a target region of a vessel via a catheter;

retracting a sheath from the stent; and

distributing along a length of the stent forces exerted on the stent during retraction of the sheath;

wherein the forces are distributed as a result of the interlocking of longitudinally spaced apertures formed in a wall of the stent and protrusions extending from a catheter inner member distal portion received within the stent.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the forces are distributed equally along the length of the stent.