DELIVERY CATHETER WITH CONSTRAINING SHEATH AND METHODS OF DEPLOYING MEDICAL DEVICES INTO A BODY LUMEN

• US 20090254169A1
• Filed: 04/02/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gardia Medical Ltd. (Allmed Solutions Ltd.)
• Inventors: Spenser, Benjamin, Somekh, Gonen, Neeman, Ronen
• Granted Patent: US 8,545,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.120
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12131 characterised by the type of occluding device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12054 Details concerning the detachment of the occluding device from the introduction device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/01 Filters implantable into blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/011 Instruments for their placement or removal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/013 Distal protection devices, i.e. devices placed distally in combination with another endovascular procedure, e.g. angioplasty or stenting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/018 made from tubes or sheets of material, e.g. by etching or laser-cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0681 Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube

Abstract

A delivery catheter includes a constraining sheath coupled to a distal end of the catheter, and a medical device, such as an embolic protection device (EPD) or a stent, constrained by the sheath. A wire may extend proximally from the constraining sheath and be coupled thereto. A proximal pulling force on the wire causes the wire to tear the constraining sheath, thereby releasing the medical device from a constrained configuration to an expanded configuration.

Claims

1. A delivery catheter for delivering a medical device, the delivery catheter comprising:

a constraining sheath having a proximal end coupled to a distal end of the delivery catheter and a free distal end, said constraining sheath holding the medical device in a constrained state; and

a wire coupled to the constraining sheath and having a free end section extending proximally therefrom, said wire having a cutting section or a cutting element, or being coupled to a cutting section or a cutting element, said cutting section or cutting element tearing the constraining sheath longitudinally when a force pulling is applied proximally to the free end section, thereby releasing the therapeutic device from a constrained configuration to an expanded configuration.

2. The delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the medical device is an embolic protection device (EPD).

3. The delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the medical device is a stent.

4. The delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the wire is coupled to the constraining sheath near a location where the constraining sheath is coupled to the distal end of the delivery catheter, and extends distally therefrom over the free distal end of the constraining sheath and continues proximally toward a proximal end of the delivery catheter.

5. The delivery catheter of claim 2, wherein the distal end of the constraining sheath includes a cut or notch engaging with the wire to facilitate tearing of the sheath by the wire when the wire is pulled proximally.

6. The delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the wire comprises an end section disposed near the free distal end of the constraining sheath, said end section having a cutting edge which cuts the constraining sheath proximally from the free distal end of the constraining sheath when the wire is pulled proximally.

7. The delivery catheter of claim 6, wherein the constraining sheath comprises spaced-apart holes arranged longitudinally from the free distal end of the constraining sheath and the wire is threaded through the holes proximally starting from the free distal end.

8. The delivery catheter of claim 6, wherein the constraining sheath comprises a pocket arranged longitudinally from the free distal end of the constraining sheath and the wire passes through the pocket proximally starting from the free distal end.

9. The delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the wire comprises an end section attached to the free distal end of the constraining sheath, said end section extending outside the constraining sheath proximally from the free distal end and tearing the constraining sheath longitudinally when the wire is pulled proximally.

10. The delivery catheter of claim 9, wherein the constraining sheath comprises a longitudinally extending tear strip and the end section of the wire is attached to the tear strip.

11. The delivery catheter of claim 1, wherein the wire comprises an end section attached to the free distal end of the constraining sheath, said end section extending inside the constraining sheath proximally from the free distal end and tearing the constraining sheath longitudinally when the wire is pulled proximally.

12. The delivery catheter of claim 11, wherein the constraining sheath comprises a longitudinally extending tear strip and the end section of the wire is attached to the tear strip.