METHOD OF LOADING A STENT INTO A SHEATH
First Claim
1. A method of loading a self-expanding stent into a delivery sheath that is by itself strong enough to preserve the stent in a radially compressed pre-deployment configuration, comprising the steps of:
- i) compressing the stent to a relatively small diameter;
ii) providing a loading sheath with an inner diameter d1;
iii) with the stent exhibiting an outside diameter of d2, where d2<
d1, providing relative translational movement between the stent and the loading sheath, whereby the stent is accommodated within the lumen of the loading sheath;
advancing the loading sheath, containing the stent, into the lumen of the delivery sheath; and
v) deploying the stent into the lumen of the delivery sheath, by withdrawing the loading sheath while restraining the stent from axial movement out of the lumen of the delivery sheath.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed herein a method of loading a self-expanding stent (10) into a delivery sheath (12) that is by itself strong enough to preserve the stent in a radially compressed pre-deployment configuration, comprising the steps of: (i) compressing the stent (10) to a relatively small diameter; (ii) providing a loading sheath (18) with an inner diameter d1; (iii) with the stent (10) exhibiting an outside diameter of d2, where d2<d1, providing relative translational movement between the stent (10) and the loading sheath (18), whereby the stent is accommodated within the lumen of the loading sheath (18); (iv) advancing the loading sheath (18), containing the stent (10), into the lumen (16) of the delivery sheath (12); and {v} deploying the stent into the lumen (16) of the delivery sheath (12), by withdrawing the loading sheath (18) while restraining the stent (10) from axial movement out of the lumen (16) of the delivery sheath (12).
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method of loading a self-expanding stent into a delivery sheath that is by itself strong enough to preserve the stent in a radially compressed pre-deployment configuration, comprising the steps of:
-
i) compressing the stent to a relatively small diameter; ii) providing a loading sheath with an inner diameter d1; iii) with the stent exhibiting an outside diameter of d2, where d2<
d1, providing relative translational movement between the stent and the loading sheath, whereby the stent is accommodated within the lumen of the loading sheath;advancing the loading sheath, containing the stent, into the lumen of the delivery sheath; and v) deploying the stent into the lumen of the delivery sheath, by withdrawing the loading sheath while restraining the stent from axial movement out of the lumen of the delivery sheath. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification