Stent delivery system with improved delivery force distribution
First Claim
1. A stent delivery system for use with expandable stents, the stent delivery system comprising:
- a catheter having a lumen extending therethrough;
an inner core having a single stent or one or more adjacent stents or stent grafts crimped thereon for delivery therefrom;
a series of outwardly flared members extending from the inner member and engaging segments of the single stent or portions of the one or more adjacent stents or stent grafts during delivery thereof; and
an outer sheath overlying the single stent or one or more stents or stent grafts, and the inner core.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A stent delivery system that helps equalize delivery forces throughout a vascular prosthesis during delivery thereof to an intended treatment site. The delivery system comprises a catheter having a lumen therethrough, an inner core over which the one or more stents or stent grafts is mounted for delivery from the catheter, and an outer sheath overlying the one or more stent or stent graft and the inner core. The inner core of the further comprises a series of outwardly flared members that engage segments or fill voids in or between the stent, stents or stent grafts, respectively. The outwardly flared members of the inner core thus help maintain the segments of the stent or the one or more stents or stent grafts in spaced relation with respect to one another as delivery thereof occurs and as removal of the outer sheath occurs to position the one or more stents or stent grafts at the intended treatment site. The outwardly flared members thus help to distribute delivery forces more evenly throughout the one or more stents or stent grafts being delivered from the catheter. The outwardly flared members further aid accurate placement of the one or more stents or stent grafts by maintaining longitudinal spacing thereof during delivery.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A stent delivery system for use with expandable stents, the stent delivery system comprising:
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a catheter having a lumen extending therethrough;
an inner core having a single stent or one or more adjacent stents or stent grafts crimped thereon for delivery therefrom;
a series of outwardly flared members extending from the inner member and engaging segments of the single stent or portions of the one or more adjacent stents or stent grafts during delivery thereof; and
an outer sheath overlying the single stent or one or more stents or stent grafts, and the inner core. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for delivering one or more stents or stent grafts via a catheter-based delivery system, the method comprising:
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mounting one or more expandable stents or stent graft in a crimped state to an inner core of the catheter-based delivery system;
engaging outwardly flared members of the inner core to portions of the one or more stents or stent grafts to maintain the one or more stents in a desired spatial orientation during delivery thereof to an intended treatment site;
disposing an outer sheath over the one or more stents or stent grafts;
inserting the delivery system to the intended treatment site;
distributing delivery forces throughout the one or more stents or stent grafts during delivery thereof by the engagement of the outwardly flared members with the portions of the one or more stents or stent grafts; and
withdrawing the outer sheath and resuming an expanded state of the one or more stents thereby disengaging the outwardly flared members from the one or more stents or stent grafts; and
withdrawing the inner core. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification