INTRALUMINARY STENT RELOCATING APPARATUS

• US 20080262592A1
• Filed: 04/22/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Jordan, Gary A., Wood, Mark D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,187,284 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 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

Abstract

An apparatus for moving an object disposed within a body lumen. The apparatus includes a first sheath, a coupling member and at least one contraction member for engaging at least a portion of the object. The coupling member is movable relative to the first sheath between a retracted position and a capture position. In the retracted position, a distal portion of the coupling member is disposed within the first sheath. In the capture position, the coupling member distal portion is disposed outside the first sheath. The coupling member is also selectively attachable to the object in at least the capture position. When the coupling member is attached to the object and the contraction member is directly engaged with the object, a predetermined coupling member movement relative to the contraction member radially contracts at least a portion of the object thereby facilitating movement of the object within the body lumen.

Claims

1. An apparatus for moving an object disposed within a body lumen, the apparatus comprising:

a first sheath for insertion into the body lumen;

a coupling member movable relative to the first sheath between a retracted position wherein a distal portion of the coupling member is disposed within the first sheath and a capture position wherein the coupling member distal portion is disposed outside the first sheath, the coupling member selectively attachable to the object in at least the capture position; and

at least one contraction member for engaging at least a portion of the object, whereby when the coupling member is attached to the object and the contraction member is directly engaged with the object then a predetermined coupling member movement relative to the contraction member radially contracts at least a portion of the object thereby facilitating movement of the object within the body lumen.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling member and the contraction member cooperate to draw the object at least partially within the first sheath.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling member includes at least one first grasping member for removeably attaching to the object, wherein the first grasping member includes at least one of a hook, forceps, clamp and snare.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contraction member includes a deployable funnel with an inner passage for receiving the object, at least one portion of the funnel being selectively adjustable between a radially compressed and a radially expanded configuration.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein another predetermined coupling member movement relative to the funnel encourages the funnel to adjust to the expanded configuration.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the coupling member is axially moveable relative to the funnel.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the funnel is axially moveable relative to the first sheath.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least a distal portion of the coupling member is disposed within the inner passage when the coupling member is in the retracted position.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the coupling member includes at least one stop member for limiting axial movement of the coupling member relative to the funnel.

10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the coupling member includes a cap, whereby the cap selectively retains the funnel in the compressed configuration.

11. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the funnel is disposed at a distal end of the first sheath.

12. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the funnel is integrally formed with the first sheath.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the contraction member includes a second sheath moveably disposed with respect to the first sheath, wherein at least a portion of the second sheath is coaxially disposed within the first sheath.

14. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the coupling member includes at least one elongate rod extending generally parallel to the first sheath.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first grasping member is disposed on a distal end of the rod.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the rod is biased to diverge radially away from a central longitudinal axis of the sheath.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one elongate rod extends from a distal end of the second sheath, the rod extending generally parallel to at least one of the first and second sheath, wherein at least a distal portion of the rod is disposed outside the first sheath when the contraction member is in the capture position.

18. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the contraction member includes at least one second grasping member for removeably attaching to the object, whereby the first and second grasping members cooperate to radially contract the object.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein when in the capture position the first grasping member secures to a distal portion of the object and the second grasping member secures to a proximal portion of the object.

20. A method for moving an intraluminary object disposed within a body, comprising:

providing a first sheath for insertion into a body lumen;

providing a coupling member movable relative to the first sheath between a retracted position wherein a distal portion of the coupling member is disposed within the first sheath and a capture position wherein the coupling member distal portion is disposed outside the first sheath, the coupling member selectively attachable to the object in at least the capture position; and

providing at least one contraction member for engaging at least a portion of the object, whereby when the coupling member is attached to the object a predetermined coupling member movement relative to the contraction member radially contracts at least a portion of the object thereby facilitating movement of the object within the body lumen.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the contraction member includes a deployable funnel with an inner passage for receiving the object, at least one portion of the funnel being selectively adjustable between a radially compressed and a radially expanded configuration.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising:

inserting the first sheath, the coupling member and the contraction member into the body lumen with at least the coupling member in a retracted position;

moving the coupling member into the capture position; and

attaching the coupling member to the object.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

initiating the predetermined coupling member movement and

moving the object relative to the body lumen.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein the coupling member includes at least one grasping member for removeably attaching to the object, wherein the grasping member includes at least one of a hook, forceps, clamp and snare.

25. The method according to claim 20, wherein the contraction member includes a second sheath moveably disposed with respect to the first sheath, wherein at least a portion of the second sheath is coaxially disposed within the first sheath.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the coupling member includes at least one elongate rod extending generally parallel to the first sheath.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the grasping member is disposed on a distal end of the rod.

28. The method according to claim 20, wherein the predetermined coupling member movement includes a distal portion of the coupling member moving at least one of toward and away from a distal portion of the contraction member.

29. The method according to claim 20, wherein the radial contraction of the object is associated with an elongation of the object.

30. The method according to claim 20, wherein the radial contraction of the object is performed by the object moving through the contraction member.