MEDICAL SYSTEMS AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20080188920A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 08/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Moberg, John R., Gerdts, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,657,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.12
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/09116 Design of handles or shafts or gripping surfaces thereof for manipulating guide wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/09 Guide wires

Abstract

Medical systems and related methods are described. In some embodiments, the medical systems include an outer member defining a slot. In certain embodiments, the outer member at least partially surrounds an inner member, and the outer and inner members are configured so that an implantable medical endoprosthesis can be disposed between the outer and inner members.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a connector secured to a housing of a handle assembly;

an inner member secured to the connector; and

an outer member at least partially surrounding the inner member, the outer member defining a slot configured so that a portion of the connector can be disposed within the slot, the outer member and the inner member being configured so that an implantable medical endoprosthesis can be disposed between the outer member and the inner member.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the outer member is retractable relative to the inner member.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a distal end of the slot, upon contacting the connector, substantially prevents further retraction of the outer member relative to the inner member.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a stop secured to the outer member, the stop being configured to contact the connector so that displacement of the outer member and the inner member can be limited.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the outer member comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion comprising radially extending teeth.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the handle comprises a rotatable knob configured to engage the radially extending teeth of the first portion of the outer member such that the outer member can be retracted by rotating the rotatable knob.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the slot extends from a proximal end of the proximal portion to a location proximal to a distal end of the proximal portion.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the slot extends from a proximal end of the proximal portion to a distal end of the proximal portion.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the slot extends into the distal portion of the outer member.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the proximal portion of the outer member comprises a tubular rack and the distal portion of the outer member comprises a sheath, the tubular rack being secured to the sheath.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the sheath and the inner member are configured so that an implantable medical endoprosthesis can be disposed between the sheath and the inner member.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the sheath can be retracted into the handle assembly.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the outer member extends through the handle assembly, and a pull grip is secured to the outer member proximal to the handle assembly.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a tubular portion at least partially surrounding the inner member.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the connector further comprises a rib portion securing the tubular portion to the handle assembly, the slot being configured so that the rib portion of the connector can extend radially through the slot.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the slot is configured so that a guide wire can pass radially through the slot.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein, during use, the guide wire passes radially through the slot at a location proximal to the handle assembly.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising an implantable medical endoprosthesis disposed between the outer member and the inner member.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the implantable medical endoprosthesis comprises a self-expanding stent.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a membrane having a first portion attached to the inner member and a second portion attached to the outer member, the membrane at least partially surrounding an implantable medical endoprosthesis disposed between the outer member and the inner member.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing of the handle assembly defines a slot configured to receive a member extending radially from the outer member.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the member defines a port in fluid communication with a lumen defined between the inner member and the outer member.

23. A system, comprising:

a connector secured to a housing of a handle assembly; and

a rack secured to a sheath, the sheath being configured so that an implantable medical endoprosthesis can be disposed within the sheath, the rack defining a longitudinal slot configured so that a portion of the connector can be disposed within the longitudinal slot such that the rack and the sheath can be longitudinally displaced relative to the handle and the connector.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the rack and the sheath can be longitudinally displaced to an extent such that a distal end of the rack is proximal to a distal end of the handle assembly.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the rack and the sheath can be longitudinally displaced to an extent such that a portion of the sheath extends into the handle assembly.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the longitudinal slot is configured so that a guide wire can pass radially through the longitudinal slot.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein, during use, the guide wire passes radially through the longitudinal slot at a location proximal to the handle assembly.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the housing of the handle assembly defines a slot configured to receive a member extending radially from the rack.

29. A method, comprising:

retracting an outer member relative to an inner member, a portion of a connector to which the inner member is secured being disposed within a slot defined by the outer member as the outer member is retracted relative to the inner member, the outer member and the inner member being configured so that an implantable medical endoprosthesis can be disposed between the outer member and the inner member.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the connector is secured to a housing of a handle assembly.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising passing a guide wire through the slot.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the outer member is at least partially disposed within a handle assembly and the guide wire is passed through the slot at a location proximal to the handle assembly.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein retracing the outer member relative to the inner member allows an implantable medical endoprosthesis disposed between the outer member and the inner member to expand.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the implantable medical endoprosthesis comprises a self-expanding stent.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein retracing the outer member relative to the inner member comprises rotating a rotatable knob engaged with the outer member.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein retracing the outer member relative to the inner member comprises pulling a pull member secured to a proximal end region of the outer member in a proximal direction.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein the outer member comprises a sheath that can contain an implantable medical endoprosthesis therein and the connector is secured to a housing of a handle assembly, and wherein retracting the outer member relative to the inner member comprises retracting a portion of the sheath into the handle assembly.

38. The method of claim 29, wherein the connector is secured to a housing of a handle assembly, and, when the outer member is retracted relative to the inner member, a portion of the outer member extends proximally beyond a proximal end of the handle assembly.