INTRODUCER ASSEMBLY

• US 20130282100A1
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jensen, Anders Ginge
• Application Number:
  US13/870,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20130282100A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.12
• 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 2/97 the outer sleeve being splittable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9665 with additional retaining means

Abstract

An introducer assembly (10) includes a proximal sheath segment (12) and a distal sheath segment (14). The distal sheath segment (14) is attached to a dilator tip (18) and is movable with the dilator tip (18). A guide wire catheter (20) is coupled to the dilator tip (18) and thus to the distal sheath segment (14). A carrier catheter (24) is located concentrically on the guide wire catheter (20) and carries a medical device such as a stent (28). The medical device (28) is deployed by moving the distal sheath segment (14) in a proximal direction and such that the medical device (28) is deployed from its distal end (32) first.

Claims

1. An introducer assembly including an implantable medical device carried thereon;

the implantable medical device being self-expanding and including a first end, a second end and a device length;

the introducer assembly having a proximal and a distal end, wherein the distal end is insertable into a patient'"'"'s vasculature;

the introducer assembly including a device carrier element for carrying the implantable medical device, wherein the first end of the medical device is located proximate the distal end of the introducer assembly relative to the second end thereof;

a first sheath element having a length at least as great as the length of the medical device and a distal end proximate the distal end of the introducer assembly;

a sheath carrier coupled the distal end of the first sheath element and to the distal end of the introducer assembly;

the sheath carrier being movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the device carrier;

a second sheath element extending in a proximal direction of the medical device towards an external manipulation end of the assembly, the first and second sheath elements having substantially the same external diameters;

the first sheath element having a contracted position covering the entirety of the medical device and an extended position, wherein as the sheath carrier is moved distally from its contracted position towards its extended position the first sheath element exposes the medical device from its second end first, thereby providing for the deployment of the medical device from its second end first.

2. An introducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the medical device is radially constrained solely by the sheath.

3. An introducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second ends of the medical device are constrained solely by the sheath.

4. An introducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the device carrier element is a cannula or catheter.

5. An introducer assembly according to claim 4, wherein the device carrier element provides a guide lumen.

6. An introducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sheath carrier includes a dilator tip at the distal end thereof.

7. An introducer assembly according to claim 1, wherein the medical device is a stent.

8. An introducer assembly according to claim 1, including a pusher element abutting the first end of the medical device.

9. An introducer assembly according to claim 1, including a pusher element abutting the second end of the medical device.

10. An introducer assembly including an implantable medical device carried thereon;

the implantable medical device being self-expanding and including a first end, a second end and a device length;

the introducer assembly having a proximal and a distal end, wherein the distal end is insertable into a patient'"'"'s vasculature;

the introducer assembly including a device carrier element for carrying the implantable medical device, wherein the first end of the medical device is located proximate the distal end of the introducer assembly relative to the second end thereof;

a first sheath element having a length sufficient to cover the majority of the length of the medical device and a distal end proximate the distal end of the introducer assembly;

a sheath carrier coupled the distal end of the first sheath element and to the distal end of the introducer assembly;

the sheath carrier being movable in a longitudinal direction relative to the device carrier;

a second sheath element extending in a proximal direction of the medical device towards an external manipulation end of the assembly, the first and second sheath elements having substantially the same external diameters;

the first sheath element having a contracted position covering substantially the entirety of the medical device and an extended position, wherein as the sheath carrier is moved distally from its contracted position towards its extended position the first sheath element exposes the medical device from its second end first, thereby providing for the deployment of the medical device from its second end first.