Stent delivery system with multiple evenly spaced pullwires

• US 20070055340A1
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Pryor, Jack
• Granted Patent: US 8,968,379 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 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0037 characterized by lumina being arranged side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/004 characterized by lumina being arranged circumferentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0136 Handles therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0147 with movable mechanical means, e.g. pull wires

Abstract

In one aspect, a stent delivery system includes a catheter having two or more pullwire lumens evenly spaced about the central axis of the catheter and thereby balanced within the catheter. Pullwires are positioned in the pullwire lumens. Proximal portions of the pullwires are attached to a connector, which is attached to a master pullwire. The connector has a given range of motion that allows the pullwires to move within the pullwire lumens, thereby ensuring full flexibility of the catheter. The pullwires assume different lengths. A pullwire positioned over the outer curve of a flexed catheter may be longer than a pullwire positioned within the inner curve of the catheter, preventing the catheter from being straightened or displaced by the action of retracting the pullwires. The catheter may serve as either an inner member on which a stent is mounted or a sheath enclosing a stent.

Claims

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

a catheter;

a catheter center member;

a catheter sheath having a plurality of pullwire lumens evenly spaced about a central axis of the catheter;

a plurality of pullwires received within the pullwire lumens; and

a pivoting connector operably attached to proximal portions of the pullwires;

a pull member connected to said pivoting connector which is fixed to said center member to facilitate relative motion between said center member and said pivoting connection.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the connector is a wheel having at least one groove formed in an outer surface of the wheel.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the connector is a narrow, elongated member.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the connector is a substantially flat, triangular plate.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the connector is a hemisphere.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a master pullwire operably attached to the connector.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the catheter includes a central guidewire lumen.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a guidewire.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a flexible conduit enclosing a proximal portion of each pullwire.

10. A stent delivery system, comprising:

a catheter having a plurality of pullwire lumens evenly spaced about a central axis of the catheter;

a stent mounted on a distal portion of the catheter;

a retractable sheath enclosing the stent; and

a plurality of pullwires received within the pullwire lumens, the pullwires attached to the retractable sheath.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

a pivoting connector operably attached to proximal portions of the pullwires.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a master pullwire operably attached to the connector.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the pullwires are attached to a mid-portion of the retractable sheath.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the catheter includes a central guidewire lumen.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

a guidewire.

16. A stent delivery system, comprising:

an inner member;

a stent mounted on the inner member;

a catheter enclosing at least a portion of the stent, the catheter including a plurality of pullwire lumens evenly spaced about a central axis of the catheter; and

a plurality of pullwires received within the pullwire lumens.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a pivoting connector operably attached to proximal portions of the pullwires.

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

a retractable sheath enclosing a distal portion of the stent, wherein distal portions of the pullwires are attached to the retractable sheath.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the retractable sheath encloses a distal portion of the catheter.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein the inner member includes a central guidewire lumen.

22. The system of claim 21 further comprising:

a guidewire.

18. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

a master pullwire operably attached to the connector.