Delivery system and method for vascular prosthesis

• US 20080221657A1
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NovoStent Corp.
• Original Assignee: NovoStent Corp.
• Inventors: Martin, Gerald Ray, Betelia, Rainier, Laroya, Gilbert S., Estrada, Edward A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,002,815 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/885 comprising a coil including a plurality of spiral or helical sections with alternate directions around a central axis
• 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 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9505 having retaining means other than an outer sleeve, e.g. male-female connector between stent and instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter

Abstract

A delivery system for an implantable vascular prosthesis is provided for a vascular prosthesis including at least first and second helical sections having alternating directions of rotation that are coupled to one another at apices. The delivery system includes an elongate body, a plurality of retainers and an outer sheath. The plurality of retainers are configured to temporarily retain a plurality of inner wound apices of the vascular prosthesis. The outer sheath is configured to retain the vascular prosthesis in a contracted state on the elongate body.

Claims

1. A delivery system for a vascular prosthesis having an alternating helical section with inner wound and outer wound apices, the delivery system comprising:

an elongate body;

a plurality of retainers disposed on the elongate body, wherein the plurality of retainers are spaced along the length of the elongate body, and the distance between adjacent retainers is substantially equal to the distance between adjacent inner wound apices of the vascular prosthesis; and

an outer sheath that defines a longitudinal lumen, wherein the elongate body is slidably received within the longitudinal lumen.

2. The delivery system of claim 1, wherein the outer diameter of the elongate body varies over the length of the elongate body.

3. The delivery system of claim 2, wherein the outer surface of the elongate body defines a plurality of undulations.

4. The delivery system of claim 2, wherein the outer surface of the elongate body defines a plurality of steps.

5. The delivery system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pads that extend from the outer surface of the elongate body, wherein the pads are spaced between the retainers.

6. The delivery system of claim 5, wherein the pads are constructed from a resilient material.

7. The delivery system of claim 1, wherein the retainers are recesses in the outer surface of the elongate body and a retaining wire that extends across the recesses to form a space between the retaining wire and the surface of the recess wherein the retaining wire is configured to be loaded through an opening in the vascular prosthesis.

8. The delivery system of claim 1, wherein the retainers are flexible clips.

9. A method of loading a vascular prosthesis into a delivery system, comprising:

providing a vascular prosthesis comprising an alternating helical section that includes a plurality of helical portions having alternating directions of rotation, wherein each helical portion is coupled to an adjacent helical portion at an apex;

providing a delivery system including an elongate body, a plurality of retainers and an outer sheath;

coupling a plurality of inner wound apices to the elongate body with the retainers;

winding the alternating helical section around elongate body to a contracted state; and

extending the outer sheath over the elongate body and the vascular prosthesis such that the outer sheath retains the vascular prosthesis in the contracted state.

10. The method of loading a vascular prosthesis of claim 9, further comprising uncoupling the inner wound apices from the elongate body.

11. The method of loading a vascular prosthesis of claim 10, wherein coupling the plurality of inner wound apices to the elongate body comprises extending a retaining wire through a retaining wire lumen defined by the elongate body such that the retaining wire extends through a portion of the vascular prosthesis received in recesses of the retainers.

12. The method of loading a vascular prosthesis of claim 11, wherein uncoupling the inner wound apices from the elongate body comprises removing the retaining wire from the retaining wire lumen of the elongate body.

13. The method of loading a vascular prosthesis of claim 9, wherein the vascular prosthesis further comprises a proximal anchor.

14. The method of loading a vascular prosthesis of claim 13, further comprising contracting the proximal anchor on the elongate body to a contracted state prior to extending the outer sheath over the elongate body and the vascular prosthesis.

15. A kit for implanting a vascular prosthesis in a body vessel having a vessel wall, the kit comprising:

a vascular prosthesis including an alternating helical section comprising a plurality of helical portions having alternating directions of rotation about a longitudinal axis of the prosthesis wherein each helical portion is coupled to at least one adjacent helical portion at an apex; and

a delivery system including an elongate body, a plurality of retainers disposed on the elongate body and an outer sheath,

wherein the retainers are spaced along the length of the elongate body such that each retainer is aligned with a corresponding inner wound apex of the vascular prosthesis,

wherein the vascular prosthesis is wound down on the elongate member in a contracted state, and

wherein the outer sheath is disposed over the elongate member and the vascular prosthesis such that it is configured to retain the vascular prosthesis in the contracted state.

16. The kit of claim 15, wherein at least one inner wound apex is coupled to the elongate body by a retainer.

17. The kit of claim 15, wherein the delivery system includes a proximal stop extending from the outer surface of the elongate body.

18. The kit of claim 17, wherein the vascular prosthesis includes a proximal anchor coupled to a proximal end of the alternating helical section by a strut.

19. The kit of claim 18, wherein the delivery system includes an intermediate stop extending from the outer surface of the elongate body and disposed on the elongate body such that it is between the alternating helical section and the proximal anchor.

20. The kit of claim 19, wherein the intermediate stop includes a channel that receives the strut.