LOADING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR EXPANDABLE INTRALUMINAL MEDICAL DEVICES
First Claim
1. An apparatus for loading an expandable intraluminal medical device into a delivery catheter, said apparatus comprising:
- a main body having a lengthwise axis, a proximal end defining a proximal opening, a distal end defining a distal opening, and a main body passageway extending between the proximal and distal openings, the main body passageway defining a proximal chamber having a first inner diameter, a distal chamber having a second inner diameter, and a transition chamber disposed between the proximal and distal chambers, the second inner diameter being greater than the first inner diameter and the transition chamber having an inner diameter that transitions along the lengthwise axis from the second inner diameter to the first inner diameter, the main body having proximal and distal portions connected to each other at a separable connection;
an inner sleeve comprising a tubular body and a distal flange, the tubular body disposed within the main body passageway and the distal flange extending outwardly relative to the lengthwise axis of the main body and disposed between the proximal and distal portions of the main body;
a proximal cap disposed on the proximal portion of the main body, the cap defining a cap passageway in communication with the passageway of the main body; and
at least one pull wire attached to the cap and extending into the passageway of the main body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Medical device loading apparatuses, systems, methods and kits are described. A loading apparatus comprises a main body having a proximal end defining a proximal opening, a distal end defining a distal opening, and a passageway extending between the proximal and distal openings. The passageway defines a proximal chamber having a first inner diameter, a distal chamber having a second inner diameter, and a transition chamber disposed between the proximal and distal chambers. The transition chamber has an inner diameter that transitions from the larger second inner diameter to the smaller first inner diameter. The main body has a separable connection that divides the main body between proximal and distal portions when disrupted. An expandable intraluminal medical device can be loaded into a delivery catheter using the loading apparatus by placing the device into the passageway such that it is in a radially-expanded configuration; pulling the device along an axial path through the loading apparatus such that the device transitions from the radially-expanded configuration to a radially-compressed configuration; and pushing the radially-compressed device along the axial path into the delivery catheter.
97 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for loading an expandable intraluminal medical device into a delivery catheter, said apparatus comprising:
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a main body having a lengthwise axis, a proximal end defining a proximal opening, a distal end defining a distal opening, and a main body passageway extending between the proximal and distal openings, the main body passageway defining a proximal chamber having a first inner diameter, a distal chamber having a second inner diameter, and a transition chamber disposed between the proximal and distal chambers, the second inner diameter being greater than the first inner diameter and the transition chamber having an inner diameter that transitions along the lengthwise axis from the second inner diameter to the first inner diameter, the main body having proximal and distal portions connected to each other at a separable connection; an inner sleeve comprising a tubular body and a distal flange, the tubular body disposed within the main body passageway and the distal flange extending outwardly relative to the lengthwise axis of the main body and disposed between the proximal and distal portions of the main body; a proximal cap disposed on the proximal portion of the main body, the cap defining a cap passageway in communication with the passageway of the main body; and at least one pull wire attached to the cap and extending into the passageway of the main body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for loading an expandable intraluminal medical device into a delivery catheter, said apparatus comprising:
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a main body having a lengthwise axis, a proximal end defining a proximal opening, a distal end defining a distal opening, and a main body passageway extending between the proximal and distal openings, the main body passageway defining a proximal chamber having a first inner diameter, a distal chamber having a second inner diameter, and a transition chamber disposed between the proximal and distal chambers, the second inner diameter being greater than the first inner diameter and the transition chamber having an inner diameter that transitions along the lengthwise axis from the second inner diameter to the first inner diameter, the main body having proximal and distal portions connected to each other at a separable connection; an inner sleeve comprising a tubular body, a proximal detent and a distal flange, the tubular body disposed within the main body passageway, the proximal detent extending inwardly relative to the lengthwise axis of the main body, and the distal flange extending outwardly relative to the lengthwise axis of the main body and disposed between the proximal and distal portions of the main body; a proximal cap disposed on the proximal portion of the main body, the cap comprising first and second separable cap portions and defining a cap passageway in communication with the passageway of the main body; and at least one pull wire attached to the cap, the at least one pull wire having a first portion disposed between the first and second separable cap portions and a second portion disposed in the main body passageway.
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20. A method of loading an expandable intraluminal medical device into a delivery catheter, said expandable intraluminal medical device having radially-expanded and radially-compressed configurations, said method comprising:
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placing said expandable intraluminal medical device into a passageway defined by a loading apparatus such that said expandable intraluminal medical device is disposed within the passageway in said radially-expanded configuration; pulling said expandable intraluminal medical device along an axial path and through the apparatus such that said expandable intraluminal medical device transitions from said radially-expanded configuration to said radially-compressed configuration; and after pulling said expandable intraluminal medical device and achieving said radially-compressed configuration, pushing said expandable intraluminal medical device into said medical device delivery catheter.
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Specification