Controlled Tip Release Stent Graft Delivery System and Method

• US 20110257720A1
• Filed: 04/20/2010
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Glynn, Brian, Peterson, Susan Rea
• Granted Patent: US 8,764,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/07 Stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/243 Deployment by mechanical expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means

Abstract

An apparatus and method of deploying a stent graft having a proximal anchor stent ring includes restraining proximal apexes of the proximal anchor stent ring between a spindle body of a spindle and a control release sleeve of a tapered tip. The control release sleeve is advanced relative to the spindle to release a first proximal apex through an opening in the control release sleeve while the remaining proximal apexes remain restrained by the control release sleeve. The control release sleeve is further advanced relative to the spindle to release the remaining proximal apexes from the control release sleeve. In another example, a stent capture fitting has variable length stent capture fitting arms. As the stent capture fitting is retracted, the proximal apexes of the proximal anchor stent ring are sequentially exposed from and released by the variable length stent capture fitting arms. By using the control release sleeve or the stent capture fitting, controlled sequential release of the proximal apexes is achieved.

Claims

1. A stent graft delivery system comprising:

a tapered tip comprising a control release sleeve, said control release sleeve comprising;

a cylindrical wall portion; and

a control release portion attached to said cylindrical wall portion, said control release portion comprising a hollow cylinder having an opening formed therein;

a spindle comprising spindle pins comprising;

a first spindle pin; and

a second spindle pin, wherein prior to advancement of said tapered tip relative to said spindle pins, a first distance between said first spindle pin and said opening is less than a second distance between said second spindle pin and a proximal end of said control release portion.

2. The stent graft delivery system of claim 1 wherein said tapered tip further comprises a primary sheath abutment surface, a distal end of said cylindrical wall portion being connected to said primary sheath abutment surface.

3. The stent graft delivery system of claim 2 wherein said cylindrical wall portion extends proximally from said distal end to a proximal end of said cylindrical wall portion.

4. The stent graft delivery system of claim 3 wherein a distal end of said control release portion is connected to said proximal end of said cylindrical wall portion.

5. The stent graft delivery system of claim 1 wherein said opening is a cutaway portion of said cylinder.

6. The stent graft delivery system of claim 1 wherein said control release sleeve further comprises:

a first circumferential edge;

a second circumferential edge;

a first longitudinal edge extending between said first circumferential edge and said second circumferential edge;

a second longitudinal edge extending between said first circumferential edge and said second circumferential edge.

7. The stent graft delivery system of claim 6 wherein said opening is defined by said first circumferential edge, said first longitudinal edge, and said second longitudinal edge.

8. The stent graft delivery system of claim 7 wherein said first distance exists between said first spindle pin and said first circumferential edge and said second distance exists between said second spindle pin and said second circumferential edge.

9. The stent graft delivery system of claim 6 wherein said first circumferential edge, said second circumferential edge, said first longitudinal edge, and said second longitudinal edge are rounded.

10. The stent graft delivery system of claim 1 further comprising a stent graft comprising a proximal anchor stent ring restrained by said control release sleeve.

11. The stent graft delivery system of claim 10 wherein said proximal anchor stent ring comprises a first proximal apex extending around said first spindle pin and a second proximal apex extending around said second spindle pin.

12. The stent graft delivery system of claim 10 wherein said proximal anchor stent ring comprises proximal apexes and anchor pins adjacent said proximal apexes.

13. The stent graft delivery system of claim 1 wherein said opening comprises a variable size opening.

14. The stent graft delivery system of claim 13 wherein said variable size opening is larger at a proximal end of said control release portion than at a distal end of said control release portion.

15. The stent graft delivery system of claim 13 wherein said control release sleeve is formed with a plurality of steps.

16. The stent graft delivery system of claim 13 wherein said opening is defined by a helical edge.

17. The stent graft delivery system of claim 16 wherein said helical edge comprises a left hand helix.

18. The stent graft delivery system of claim 16 wherein said helical edge comprises a right hand helix.

19. The stent graft delivery system of claim 16 wherein said helical edge is rounded.

20. A method of deploying a stent graft comprising a proximal anchor stent ring, said method comprising:

restraining proximal apexes of said proximal anchor stent ring between a spindle body of a spindle and a control release sleeve of a tapered tip;

releasing a first proximal apex of said proximal apexes through an opening in said control release sleeve while a second proximal apex of said proximal apexes remains restrained by said control release sleeve; and

releasing said second proximal apex from said control release sleeve.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein prior to said releasing a first proximal apex, said first proximal apex extends around a first spindle pin of said spindle.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said releasing a first proximal apex comprises advancing a first edge of said control release sleeve beyond said first spindle pin to expose said first proximal apex through said opening.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein prior to said releasing a second proximal apex, said second proximal apex extends around a second spindle pin of said spindle.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said releasing a second proximal apex comprises advancing a second edge of said control release sleeve beyond said second spindle pin to expose said second proximal apex.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said first edge comprises a first circumferential edge and said second edge comprises a second circumferential edge.

26. A method of deploying a stent graft comprising a proximal anchor stent ring, said method comprising:

restraining proximal apexes of said proximal anchor stent ring between a spindle body of a spindle and a control release sleeve of a tapered tip;

releasing a first proximal apex of said proximal apexes through an opening in said control release sleeve while a second proximal apex of said proximal apexes remains restrained by said control release sleeve; and

releasing said second proximal apex through said opening.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said opening is defined by a helical edge.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said releasing said first proximal apex comprises advancing said helical edge past said first proximal apex.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said releasing said second proximal apex comprises advancing said helical edge past said second proximal apex.

30. A stent graft delivery system comprising:

a control release sleeve, said control release sleeve comprising;

a first circumferential edge; and

a second circumferential edge;

a spindle comprising spindle pins comprising;

a first spindle pin; and

a second spindle pin, wherein prior to motion of said control release sleeve relative to said spindle pins, a first distance between said first spindle pin and said first circumferential edge is less than a second distance between said second spindle pin and said second circumferential edge.

31. The stent graft delivery system of claim 30 wherein said control release sleeve comprises stent capture fitting arms.

32. The stent graft delivery system of claim 31 wherein said stent capture fitting arms comprise a first stent capture fitting arm having a length greater than a second stent capture fitting arm of said stent capture fitting arms.

33. The stent graft delivery system of claim 32 wherein said first circumferential edge is at a distal end of said first stent capture fitting arm and said second circumferential edge is at a distal end of said second stent capture fitting arm.

34. A method of deploying a stent graft comprising a proximal anchor stent ring, said method comprising:

restraining proximal apexes of said proximal anchor stent ring between a spindle body of a spindle and a control release sleeve;

releasing a first proximal apex of said proximal apexes by moving a first circumferential edge of said control release sleeve past said first proximal apex while a second proximal apex of said proximal apexes remains restrained by said control release sleeve; and

releasing said second proximal apex by moving a second circumferential edge of said control release sleeve past said second proximal apex.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said moving a first circumferential edge of said control release sleeve and said moving a second circumferential edge of said control release sleeve comprises retracting said control release sleeve.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein said control release sleeve comprises stent capture fitting arms.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein said stent capture fitting arms comprise a first stent capture fitting arm having a length greater than a second stent capture fitting arm of said stent capture fitting arms.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein said first circumferential edge is at a distal end of said first stent capture fitting arm and said second circumferential edge is at a distal end of said second stent capture fitting arm.