Catheter

• US 20060229698A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Larson, Karen, Pederson, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 8,114,142 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 2002/9528 for retrieval of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means

Abstract

Catheters, as well as related systems and methods are disclosed.

Claims

1. An endoprosthesis delivery system, comprising:

an inner member having an outer surface, the outer surface having a socket; and

an insert operatively associated with the socket.

2. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 1, wherein the inner member has a first lubricity and an outer surface of the insert has a second lubricity different from the first lubricity.

3. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 2, wherein the second lubricity is greater than the first lubricity.

4. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 2, wherein the insert includes an outer layer that defines the outer surface having the second lubricity.

5. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 1, wherein a maximum radial extent of the inner member is about the same as or larger than a maximum radial extent of the insert.

6. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 1, wherein a maximum radial extent of the insert is greater than a maximum radial extent of the inner member.

7. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 6, further comprising an outer member that at least partially surrounds the inner member so that an endoprosthesis can be disposed between at least a portion of the inner and outer members, wherein the insert inhibits contact between the outer member and portions of the inner member adjacent the insert.

8. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 6, wherein the portion of the insert having the greater radial extent is arcuate.

9. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 6, wherein the portion of the insert having the greater radial extent is triangular or conical.

10. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 1, further comprising an outer member that at least partially surrounds the inner member so that an endoprosthesis can be at least partially disposed between the inner and outer members.

11. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 10, wherein the insert is disposed so that an endoprosthesis at least partially disposed between the inner and outer members would surround at least a portion of the insert.

12. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 1, wherein the socket is a groove.

13. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 12, wherein the inner member has a distal opening and a proximal opening and the groove extends along the inner member for at least about 20% of a distance between the distal and proximal openings.

14. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 13, wherein the groove extends along the inner member for at least about 75% of a distance between the distal and proximal openings.

15. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of inserts, wherein the inserts are spaced apart from one another along the groove.

16. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 13, wherein the insert extends along substantially all of a length of the groove.

17. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 12, wherein the groove has a longitudinal length of at least about 10 cm.

18. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 17, wherein the insert has a longitudinal length of at least about 5 cm.

19. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of inserts, wherein the inner member comprises a plurality of spaced apart sockets, and at least one respective insert is operatively associated with each socket.

20. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 19, wherein the inner member comprises a plurality of pairs of splines, and each pair of splines defines a socket therebetween.

21. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 20, wherein the inner member comprises a plurality of depressions each having a radial extent smaller than the splines, pairs of splines being spaced apart by at least one of the depressions.

22. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 21, further comprising an outer member that at least partially surrounds the inner member so that an endoprosthesis can be disposed between at least a portion of the inner member and outer member, wherein the depressions define a plurality of generally longitudinally extending channels extending between the outer member and the inner member.

23. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of inserts, wherein the inner member comprises a plurality of first portions having a first radial extent spaced apart by a plurality of second portions having a second radial extent smaller than the first radial extent, each of the first portions defining a plurality of sockets and a respective insert is operatively associated with each socket.

24. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 23, wherein the sockets and inserts do not extend along a complete length of the second portions.

25. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 1, wherein the insert extends around less than all of a circumference of the inner member.

26. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 1, wherein the inner member comprises a polymer.

27. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a polymer.

28. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 26, wherein the insert comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a fluoropolymer, a polyacetal, a polyamide, and combinations thereof.

29. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a radiopaque material.

30. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 1, wherein an outer circumference of a distal portion of the inner member is less than an outer circumference of a proximal portion of the inner member, at least the proximal portion comprising the socket.

31. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the insert is disposed within the socket.

32. An endoprosthesis delivery system, comprising:

an inner member having an outer surface defining a socket; and

a lubricious coating supported by an outer surface of the inner member.

33. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 32, wherein the inner member further comprises a plurality of splines, at least one of the splines defining the outer surface.

34. The endoprosthesis delivery system of claim 32, wherein each of the splines defines an outer surface and each outer surface supports a lubricious coating.

35. An article, comprising:

an inner member of an endoprosthesis delivery system, the inner member having an outer surface, the outer surface having a socket; and

an insert operatively associated with the socket.