STENT DELIVERY DEVICE

• US 20150057741A1
• Filed: 11/10/2014
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ryan, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,849,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• 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 2002/044 Oesophagi or esophagi or gullets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0097 Visible markings, e.g. indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0406 implanted flow modifiers

Abstract

A delivery assembly and methods for accurately positioning a stent within a body lumen are disclosed. The delivery assembly comprises a stent releasably attached to the distal end of an inner catheter. A handle at the proximal end of the assembly is operatively connected to the proximal end of an outer catheter and is configured for imparting axial movement to the outer catheter. A sheath is fixed to the handle or inner catheter and disposed about at least a portion of the outer catheter. The sheath comprises indicia visible to the user of the assembly to identify a particular measured distance from a selected point on the sheath to a selected point on one or more components of the delivery device. The inner catheter and sheath are fixed components that do not move relative to each other during axial movement of the outer catheter.

Claims

1. An assembly for delivering an endoluminal prosthesis to a patient, the assembly comprising:

a proximal end and a distal end;

an inner catheter extending between the proximal and distal ends;

an endoluminal prosthesis releasably disposed about the distal end of the inner catheter;

an outer catheter movably disposed about at least a portion of the prosthesis;

a handle at the proximal end of the assembly, the handle operatively connected to the outer catheter and configured for imparting axial movement to the outer catheter relative to the inner catheter;

a sheath fixed to at least one of the inner catheter and the handle, and disposed about at least a portion of the outer catheter, the sheath comprising indicia visible to the user of the assembly, the indicia identifying a particular measured distance from a selected point on the sheath to a selected point on one or more components of the delivery device;

wherein the inner catheter and the sheath are fixed components that do not move relative to each other during axial movement of the outer catheter.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the handle comprises a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being moveable relative to the first portion, wherein the inner catheter is fixedly connected to the first portion of the handle and the outer catheter is fixedly connected to the second portion of the handle.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the endoluminal prosthesis comprises a stent.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the visible indica comprises at least one of markings, bands, scales and numbers.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the visible indicia correspond to a measured distance between a selected point on the sheath and a selected point on the prosthesis.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the prosthesis comprises a proximal end and a distal end and wherein the selected point on the prosthesis comprises a midpoint between the proximal and distal ends.

7. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising an attachment mechanism extending between the sheath and the inner catheter.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the attachment mechanism comprises at least one of a pin, rod and bridge.

9. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the outer catheter comprises at least one aperture, slot or channel through which the attachment mechanism extends.

10. A method for delivering an endoluminal prosthesis to a patient comprising:

determining the location of a lesion within a body lumen;

inserting a distal end of a delivery device into the body lumen, the delivery device comprising an inner catheter;

an endoluminal prosthesis releasably attached to the distal end of the inner catheter;

an outer catheter movably disposed about at least a portion of the prosthesis;

and a sheath movably disposed about at least a portion of the outer catheter and fixed against axial movement relative to the inner catheter, the sheath comprising indicia disposed along a length thereof that is visible from outside the patient;

observing the indicia with respect to a reference point to determine the position of the prosthesis within the body lumen;

withdrawing the outer catheter to deploy at least a portion of the prosthesis within the body lumen while maintaining the position of the prosthesis.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of observing the indicia comprises aligning the indicia with a fixed point on the patient.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the fixed point on the patient comprises the patient'"'"'s teeth.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the outer catheter is proximally withdrawn after determining that a midpoint of the prosthesis is aligned with a center portion of the lesion.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising determining that the prosthesis is being deployed in a desired position within the body lumen.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising re-sheathing the prosthesis if it is determined that the prosthesis is being deployed in an improper position.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising repositioning the prosthesis.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the handle and the sheath are in a fixed position in space during withdrawal of the outer catheter and deployment of the prosthesis.