INTRODUCER ASSEMBLY AND IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE

• US 20100256725A1
• Filed: 04/07/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies, LLC (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated), William Cook Europe ApS (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rasmussen, Erik Edelboe
• Granted Patent: US 9,724,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/89 the wire-like elements comprising two or more adjacent rings flexibly connected by separate members
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/962 having an outer sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/075 the stent being loosely attached to the graft material, e.g. by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8483 Barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes

Abstract

An introducer for deploying an implantable medical device such as a stent (60), stent graft (80) or other similar device is provided with an outer sheath (132,232) which is provided with a series of internally longitudinally extending channels (136. 236) and interdigitating protrusions (134, 234) extending therein. At least on stent ring (0) of the medical device is provided with one or more barbs (104) which point radially outwardly of the device, including when this is compressed onto the introducer. The barbs (104) lie within the channels (136, 236) which the remainder of the medical device is retained in its compressed form by the elongate protrusions (134, 234). The channels (136, 236) allow for the provision of relatively stiff barbs (104). The barbs (104) can be better suited to ensuring the correct placement of the medical device than flexible barb arrangements.

Claims

1. An introducer assembly including an introducer and an implantable medical device carried in the introducer, which introducer is provided with an outer sheath operable to cover the implantable medical device until deployment, the outer sheath including an inner wall provided with one or more channels extending in a longitudinal direction of the sheath, the implantable medical device including at least one substantially non-compressible barb, wherein the or each substantially noncompressible barb is located in the or a respective channel of the sheath.

2. An introducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the channel or channels extend to a distal end of the sheath.

3. An introducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the channel or channels extend along the internal wall of the sheath for a distance at least equivalent to the length of the implantable medical device.

4. An introducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the internal wall of the sheath provides one or more projections extending towards a radial center-point of the sheath.

5. An introducer assembly according to claim 4, wherein the projection or projections are operable to provide a compressing force for compressing an implantable medical device towards a radial center of the sheath.

6. An introducer assembly according to claim 4, wherein the projection or projections are in the form of one or more ribs extending in a longitudinal direction of the sheath.

7. An introducer assembly according to claim 4, wherein there are provided at least two projections, spaced from one another in a radial direction of the sheath, wherein the space between the projections provides a channel.

8. An introducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein there is provided a plurality of channels within the internal wall of the sheath and wherein the channels are substantially evenly spaced in a radial direction around the inner wall of the sheath.

9. An introducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein a major portion of the sheath has a substantially smooth internal wall.

10. An introducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sheath is substantially round in transverse cross-section.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)