Endoluminal expansion system
First Claim
1. An endoluminal expansion system comprising:
- a) a protrusion affixed to an elongate actuation member, said protrusion having a maximum diameter of D2;
b) a substantially tubular sheath mounted coaxially about the elongate actuation member, said elongate actuation member being axially movable with respect to the substantially tubular sheath, said substantially tubular sheath having an inside diameter of D1, wherein D2 is greater than D1; and
c) an expandable endoprosthesis affixed coaxially about the substantially tubular sheath wherein one end of said expandable endoprosthesis is adjacent to said protrusion;
wherein said substantially tubular sheath includes at least one split along a length portion thereof.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoprosthesis expansion system having, in combination, a delivery component such as a length of catheter tubing having at its distal end an intermediate sheath component, and an inner tube within the full length of the delivery catheter and intermediate sheath component. The inner tube has a protrusion affixed to its distal end, and an expandable endoprosthesis is fitted in a compacted state about the intermediate sheath, immediately proximal to the protrusion. If the endoprosthesis is a self-expanding endoprosthesis (as is preferred), an exterior constraining sheath is required around the outer surface of the endoprosthesis. Following insertion of the endoprosthesis and delivery system into a body conduit (such as a blood vessel) and transport of the endoprosthesis to the desired site within the body conduit, the endoprosthesis is deployed by axially moving the protrusion against the system, thereby applying a radially directed outward force and causing simultaneous dilatation of the intermediate sheath and disruption of the exterior constraining sheath. Disruption of the exterior constraining sheath, in the case of a self-expanding prosthesis, releases the stored energy in the formerly constrained prosthesis, allowing it to expand and accomplish full deployment against the luminal surface of the body conduit at the desired site.
23 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An endoluminal expansion system comprising:
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a) a protrusion affixed to an elongate actuation member, said protrusion having a maximum diameter of D2;
b) a substantially tubular sheath mounted coaxially about the elongate actuation member, said elongate actuation member being axially movable with respect to the substantially tubular sheath, said substantially tubular sheath having an inside diameter of D1, wherein D2 is greater than D1; and
c) an expandable endoprosthesis affixed coaxially about the substantially tubular sheath wherein one end of said expandable endoprosthesis is adjacent to said protrusion;
wherein said substantially tubular sheath includes at least one split along a length portion thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification