Medical devices and related systems and methods

• US 20080015674A1
• Filed: 07/11/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Austin, Michael, Flanagan, Aiden, McMorrow, Dave, Serrano, Gabriel Sobrino
• Granted Patent: US 7,815,670 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• 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 2/9522 Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means

Abstract

Medical devices and related systems and methods.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

passing an implantable medical endoprosthesis through an aperture formed through a sidewall of an elongate member of a medical device to dispose the implantable medical endoprosthesis in a lumen of the elongate member.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the aperture is a slit.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the slit extends to a distal end of the elongate member.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the aperture has a length that is greater than a length of the implantable medical endoprosthesis.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming the aperture in the sidewall of the elongate member.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising expanding the aperture prior to passing the implantable medical endoprosthesis therethrough.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising passing the implantable medical endoprosthesis through an aperture formed through a sidewall of an inner sleeve disposed within a lumen of the elongate member.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising axially displacing the inner sleeve and the implantable medical endoprosthesis disposed therein relative to the aperture of the elongate member.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising separating a region of the elongate member comprising the aperture from a remainder of the elongate member.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising disposing an outer sleeve coaxially about the elongate member, the outer sleeve substantially covering the aperture.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising closing the aperture.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the elongate member of the medical device comprises an outer sheath of a stent delivery system, and the implantable medical endoprosthesis comprises a stent.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising passing the stent through an aperture formed through a sidewall of an inner sleeve disposed within a lumen of the outer sheath.

5-6. -6. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

13-16. -16. (canceled)

18-19. -19. (canceled)

21-22. -22. (canceled)

24-30. -30. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. A medical device, comprising:

an elongate member having a sidewall defining an aperture extending from an outer surface of the sidewall of the elongate member to an inner surface of the sidewall of the elongate member, the aperture being configured to allow an implantable medical endoprosthesis to be passed therethrough; and

an inner sleeve disposed within a lumen of the elongate member, the inner sleeve having a sidewall defining an aperture extending from an outer surface of the side wall of the inner sleeve to an inner surface of the sidewall of the inner sleeve, the aperture being configured to allow an implantable medical endoprosthesis to be passed therethrough.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the aperture has a length that is greater than a length of the implantable medical endoprosthesis.

37-38. -38. (canceled)

39. A method, comprising:

radially compressing an implantable medical endoprosthesis by applying a force to a plurality of circumferentially spaced tails of a sleeve at least partially surrounding the implantable medical endoprosthesis, the sleeve being partially disposed within a lumen of an elongate member; and

after radially compressing the implantable medical endoprosthesis, axially displacing the elongate member relative to the sleeve and the implantable medical endoprosthesis.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the tails extend axially beyond the implantable medical endoprosthesis.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising axially restraining the tails and applying tension to the sleeve while radially compressing the implantable medical endoprosthesis.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the elongate member comprises an outer sheath of a stent delivery system, and the implantable medical endoprosthesis comprises a stent.