Scaffold Loading and Delivery Systems
First Claim
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1. A loading assembly comprising:
- (a) a funnel assembly comprising a tapered funnel structure having a distal end and a proximal end and comprising (i) a loading lumen having a loading axis, an open distal end, an open proximal end, and at least one tapered region having a distal end with a first diameter and a proximal end with a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter and (ii) a slotted wall surrounding the loading lumen that has a plurality of longitudinal slots formed therein, the slots having an open distal end; and
(b) a loading aid assembly comprising (i) a receptacle comprising a receptacle wall, a receptacle lumen having a least one open receptacle lumen end and a receptacle axis, (ii) a scaffold comprising a scaffold wall and having a scaffold axis, a proximal scaffold end, a distal scaffold end, an inner luminal surface and an outer abluminal surface, (iii) a plurality of loading pins comprising loading pin shafts that extend from the receptacle wall, into the receptacle lumen and through the scaffold wall, said pins holding said scaffold within the receptacle lumen in a position wherein the scaffold axis is coaxial with the receptacle axis,wherein the loading aid assembly is configured to receive the distal end of the tapered funnel structure within the receptacle lumen via the open receptacle lumen end, such that the scaffold is at least partially positioned in the loading lumen, such that at least a portion of the tapered funnel structure wall is positioned between the outer abluminal surface of the stent and the inner luminal surface of the receptacle wall, such that the loading pins are positioned within the longitudinal slots of the tapered funnel structure, and such that longitudinal movement of the loading aid assembly in a proximal direction relative to the funnel assembly results in proximal longitudinal movement of the loading pins within the slots of the tapered funnel structure and proximal longitudinal movement of at least the proximal scaffold end into the tapered region reducing at least a portion of the diameter of the scaffold.
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Abstract
This disclosure pertains, inter alia, to scaffold loading and delivery devices, assemblies, systems and methods of using the same.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A loading assembly comprising:
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(a) a funnel assembly comprising a tapered funnel structure having a distal end and a proximal end and comprising (i) a loading lumen having a loading axis, an open distal end, an open proximal end, and at least one tapered region having a distal end with a first diameter and a proximal end with a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter and (ii) a slotted wall surrounding the loading lumen that has a plurality of longitudinal slots formed therein, the slots having an open distal end; and (b) a loading aid assembly comprising (i) a receptacle comprising a receptacle wall, a receptacle lumen having a least one open receptacle lumen end and a receptacle axis, (ii) a scaffold comprising a scaffold wall and having a scaffold axis, a proximal scaffold end, a distal scaffold end, an inner luminal surface and an outer abluminal surface, (iii) a plurality of loading pins comprising loading pin shafts that extend from the receptacle wall, into the receptacle lumen and through the scaffold wall, said pins holding said scaffold within the receptacle lumen in a position wherein the scaffold axis is coaxial with the receptacle axis, wherein the loading aid assembly is configured to receive the distal end of the tapered funnel structure within the receptacle lumen via the open receptacle lumen end, such that the scaffold is at least partially positioned in the loading lumen, such that at least a portion of the tapered funnel structure wall is positioned between the outer abluminal surface of the stent and the inner luminal surface of the receptacle wall, such that the loading pins are positioned within the longitudinal slots of the tapered funnel structure, and such that longitudinal movement of the loading aid assembly in a proximal direction relative to the funnel assembly results in proximal longitudinal movement of the loading pins within the slots of the tapered funnel structure and proximal longitudinal movement of at least the proximal scaffold end into the tapered region reducing at least a portion of the diameter of the scaffold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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19. A catheter that comprises:
- (a) an outer sheath comprising an outer sheath lumen and having a proximal outer sheath end and a distal outer sheath end and (b) an inner member having an inner member proximal end and an inner member distal end and comprising an elongate shaft and an enlarged diameter portion near the inner member distal end that comprises a hub and a plurality of radial projections extending from the hub, said inner member being disposable within the outer sheath.
- View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
Specification