Stent Removal and Repositioning Aid and Associated Method

• US 20080140181A1
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Reynolds, Jason M., Mangiardi, Eric K., Reuther, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 8,142,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/91 made from perforated sheet material or tubes, e.g. perforated by laser cuts or etched holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9528 for retrieval of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9534 for repositioning of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped

Abstract

A removable stent for placement within a lumen is provided. The stent includes a scaffolding of struts configured to define a substantially cylindrical member having a proximal end and a distal end. The stent also includes at least one flexible element spirally wound along at least a portion of a respective strut, wherein the element comprises at least one engageable member such that a force applied to the engageable member does not result in purse-stringing.

Claims

1. A removable stent for placement within a lumen comprising:

a scaffolding of struts configured to define a substantially cylindrical member having a proximal end and a distal end; and

at least one element intertwined about at least a portion of the struts, wherein the element comprises at least one engageable member such that a force applied to the engageable member does not result in purse-stringing.

2. The stent according to claim 1, wherein the struts comprise a plurality of interconnected legs arranged circumferentially about the stent and a plurality of connectors interconnecting the legs and extending along a longitudinal axis of the stent.

3. The stent according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of each element is intertwined longitudinally along a plurality of connectors in a spiral-like configuration.

4. The stent according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the element extends circumferentially along a plurality of legs in a spiral-like configuration.

5. The stent according to claim 2, wherein each element is intertwined about a plurality of legs and connectors, and wherein free ends of each element are joined together to define an engageable member.

6. The stent according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each element is intertwined proximate to the proximal or distal ends of the scaffolding.

7. The stent according to claim 6, wherein a free end of each element proximate to the proximal or distal ends is configured as an engageable member.

8. The stent according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the engageable member extends proximally from the proximal end or distally from the distal end.

9. The stent according to claim 1, wherein the at least one element comprises a suture material.

10. The stent according to claim 1, wherein the at least one engageable member comprises a loop.

11. A removable stent for placement within a lumen comprising:

a scaffolding of struts configured to define a substantially cylindrical member having a proximal end and a distal end; and

a plurality of engageable members arranged circumferentially about at least one of the proximal and distal ends; and

at least one element disposed within each of the engageable members and about the circumference of the proximal or distal end, wherein a force applied to the element at the proximal or distal end causes the proximal or distal end to reduce in diameter.

12. The stent according to claim 11, wherein at least a portion of each of the engageable members is intertwined about at least a portion of the struts.

13. The stent according to claim 11, wherein each of the engageable members is attached to an outer periphery of the proximal or distal end.

14. The stent according to claim 11, wherein each of the engageable members extends proximally from the proximal end or distally from the distal end.

15. The stent according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of engageable members and at least one element comprise a suture material.

16. The stent according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of engageable members comprise loops.

17. A method for removing or repositioning a stent within a lumen comprising:

engaging at least one engageable member defined by an element interwined about at least a portion of the stent; and

applying a force to the engageable member such that the force does not result in purse-stringing.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein engaging comprises engaging a plurality of engageable members.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein applying comprises pulling the at least one engageable member proximally at a proximal end of the stent.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein applying comprises pushing the at least one engageable member distally at a distal end of the stent.

21. A method for removing or repositioning a stent within a lumen, the stent comprising a plurality of engageable members arranged circumferentially about at least one of a proximal end and a distal end of the stent, the method comprising:

engaging at least one element disposed within each of the engageable members and about the circumference of the proximal or distal end; and

applying a force to the element at the proximal or distal end such that the proximal or distal end reduces in diameter.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein applying comprises pulling the at least element proximally at a proximal end of the stent.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein applying comprises pushing the at least one element distally at a distal end of the stent.