ENDOPROSTHESIS DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20120316637A1
• Filed: 04/04/2012
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Holm, Brian C., Rogers, Shane P., Trujillo, Aniceto
• Granted Patent: US 10,058,442 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.12
• 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

The present disclosure relates to catheters for delivering medical devices to a human patient'"'"'s vasculature. A catheter comprises a sock which covers the medical device at the end of the catheter, and an introducer sheath which is reduced in diameter. This reduced diameter introducer sheath minimizes the crossing of the catheter.

Claims

1. An endoprosthesis delivery system comprising:

an endoprosthesis;

a catheter shaft;

an introducer sheath having a leading end and an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the endoprosthesis;

a sock extending from the leading end of the introducer sheath over the endoprosthesis and

a sock securing element.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a sock retaining segment, wherein the sock extends over the sock retaining segment.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sock retaining segment is tapered.

4. The system of claim 2 further comprising a leading tip.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the sock securing element is located between the sock retaining segment and the leading tip.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sock securing element comprises a suture.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a sock removal mechanism.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the sock removal mechanism further comprises a blade.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the sock removal mechanism further comprises a deployment ring.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the catheter shaft comprises a guidewire lumen.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the endoprosthesis comprises a stent.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the endoprosthesis comprises a self-expanding stent.

13. The system comprising:

a catheter having a trailing and leading end;

a stent located near the leading end of the catheter;

an introducer sheath having an outer diameter equal to or less than the stent and a leading end;

a leading tip;

a sock;

a sock retaining segment located between the stent and the leading tip, wherein the sock extends from the leading end of the introducer sheath over the stent and the sock retaining segment;

a sock securing suture located between the sock retaining segment and the leading tip; and

a sock removal mechanism located near the trailing end of the catheter.

14. The method for delivering an endoprosthesis within the vasculature of a human comprising:

inserting an endoprosthesis delivery system into a body, the endoprosthesis delivery system comprising an endoprosthesis, a catheter shaft having a leading end, an introducer sheath having a leading end and an outer diameter equal to or less than the endoprosthesis, a sock extending from the leading end of the introducer sheath over the endoprosthesis and a sock positioning element. guiding the leading end of the catheter shaft to a region to be treated;

retracting the sock;

deploying the endoprosthesis; and

retracting the catheter shaft from the body, while leaving the introducer sheath in the body.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

inserting another catheter shaft into the body;

guiding the leading end of the catheter shaft to the region to be treated;

performing treatment;

retracting the catheter shaft from the body.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising removing the introducer sheath from the body.