Delivery mechanism for implantable stent

• US 20070032860A1
• Filed: 10/16/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brendan Mccrea, Christopher Brooks, Donald Van Royen, Scott Randall
• Original Assignee: Brendan Mccrea, Christopher Brooks, Donald Van Royen, Scott Randall
• Inventors: Brooks, Christopher, Randall, Scott, Van Royen, Donald, McCrea, Brendan
• Granted Patent: US 8,852,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.230
• 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

Abstract

A delivery system including an inner catheter with a reinforcing element and an outer catheter having a proximal end attached to a movable member. An abutment element may be attached to a distal end of the reinforcing element, configured to engage an implantable device disposed between the inner catheter and the outer catheter.

Claims

1. A delivery system, comprising:

an inner catheter including a reinforcing element and having a distal end attached to a tip;

an abutment element attached to a distal end of the reinforcing element, the abutment element including an open end configured to engage an end of an implantable device; and

an outer catheter including a proximal end attached to a movable member.

2. The delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the tip includes a rounded distal end.

3. The delivery system according to claim 1, wherein a mid-region of the tip has a width that is approximately equal to an inside diameter of the outer catheter.

4. The delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the tip includes a radiopaque material.

5. The delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the tip is formed around a distal end of the inner catheter.

6. The delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the abutment element includes a plastic material.

7. The delivery system according to claim 6, wherein the abutment element is molded to the reinforcing element.

8. The delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the abutment element includes a metal material.

9. The delivery system according to claim 8, wherein the abutment element is welded to the reinforcing element.

10. The delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the outer catheter is in fluid communication with a flush port.

11. The delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the inner catheter includes a guide wire lumen.

12. The delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the outer catheter in a first position has a distal end disposed about an implantable device, movement of the movable member retracting the distal end to a second position proximal of the implantable device.

13. The delivery system according to claim 1, wherein the movable member is selected from the group consisting of a pawl/sheath hub, a piston, a rack, and a power screw.

14. A method of delivering an implantable device, comprising:

providing a delivery system, comprising;

an inner catheter including a reinforcing element;

an abutment element attached to a distal end of the reinforcing element, the abutment element including an open end;

an implantable device having a proximal end positioned in the open end of the abutment element; and

an outer catheter including a proximal end attached to a movable member and a distal end disposed about the implantable device;

inserting a distal end of the delivery system into a body vessel and positioning in a desired location; and

moving the movable member to retract the distal end of the outer catheter to a position proximal of the implantable device.

15. The method according to claim 14, the moving step including maintaining the inner catheter in a fixed position.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of retracting a distal end of the inner catheter through a lumen of the implantable device to a position adjacent the distal end of the outer catheter.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the inner catheter has a distal end attached to a radiopaque tip, the inserting step including monitoring the tip to position in the desired location.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the moving step includes incrementally retracting the distal end of the outer catheter.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the movable member is attached to a mechanism that provides a mechanical advantage of approximately 4:

1, the moving step including retraction of the outer sheath in a smooth and linear fashion.

20. A method of delivering an implantable device, comprising:

inserting a distal end of a delivery system into a body vessel, the delivery system including an inner catheter with a reinforcing element, an abutment element attached to a distal end of the reinforcing element, an implantable device disposed about a distal portion of the inner catheter and engaged with an end of the abutment element, and an outer catheter with a distal end disposed about the implantable device;

positioning the distal end of a delivery system in a location to deploy the implantable device; and

moving the movable member to retract the distal end of the outer catheter to a position proximal of the implantable device.