Method and system for stent delivery

• US 5,242,399 A
• Filed: 06/18/1992
• Issued: 09/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Advanced Cardiovascular Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Lau, Lilip, Hartigan, William M.
• Primary Examiner(s): YASKO JR, JOHN D
• Application Number:
  US07/900,122
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 604/96-104, 604/164-167, 604/280, 604/282, 604/52, 604/53, 604/157-163, 606/192-198, 623/1
• US Class Current: 604/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/92 Stents in the form of a rolled-up sheet expanding after insertion into the vessel , e.g. with a spiral shape in cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9583 Means for holding the stent on the balloon, e.g. using protrusions, adhesives or an outer sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1068 having means for varying the length or diameter of the deployed balloon, this variations could be caused by excess pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1081 having sheaths or the like for covering the balloon but not forming a permanent part of the balloon, e.g. retractable, dissolvable or tearable sheaths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1006 Balloons formed between concentric tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 1/00 Dumping solid waste
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 31/00 Protective arrangements for foundations or foundation structures protective casings for piles E02D5/60; Ground foundation measures for protecting the soil or the subsoil water, e.g. preventing or counteracting oil pollution spillage retaining means for tanks B65D90/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/20 using special tracer materials, e.g. dye, fluorescent material, radioactive material

Abstract

A stent delivery system having an expandable stent in a contracted condition positioned on an expandable member, such as an inflatable balloon, disposed on the distal portion of an elongated catheter body. A guidewire extends through an inner lumen within the elongated catheter body and out its distal end. A tubular protective sheath is secured by its distal end to the portion of the guidewire which extends out of the distal end of the catheter body and fits over the rolled up stent mounted on the expandable member on the distal end of the catheter body. The catheter assembly is advanced to a desired location within a patient'"'"'s body lumen, such as the patient'"'"'s arterial system, with the sheath in place over the stent. Once in proper position, the guidewire is advanced distally in order to remove the attached sheath and completely expose the stent. The expandable member on the catheter is expanded to expand the stent. The stent is preferably self-locking in the expanded condition so that the expanded expandable member can be contracted and the catheter can be removed therefrom.

Claims

1. A stent delivery catheter for delivering a stent disposed on said catheter, comprising:

an elongated catheter body having a expandable member on a distal end thereof and an inner lumen extending therein, said expandable member adapted to expand a stent;

a guidewire disposed within said inner lumen of the catheter body, said guidewire having a distal portion extending out said distal end of the elongated catheter body;

a stent overlying said expandable member, said stent adapted to be expanded to a larger diameter by said expandable member;

a protective tubular sheath overlying said stent prior to the expansion of said stent, said protective sheath having two ends, a distal end secured to said guidewire and a proximal end secured to said catheter body, said protective sheath folded over to form two layers over said stent, to protect said stent, prior to the expansion of said stent to a larger diameter;

wherein said guidewire is moved relative to said catheter to cause said protective sheath to be withdrawn from overlying said stent, to uncover said stent, and wherein said expandable member is then expanded to expand said stent to said larger diameter.

2. The stent delivery catheter according to claim 1, wherein said protective sheath comprises a elastomeric material.

3. The stent delivery catheter according to claim 2, wherein said elastomeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane and rubber.

4. The stent delivery catheter according to claim 1, wherein said stent is of a reticulated structure and selflocking to said larger diameter when expanded.

5. The stent delivery catheter according to claim 1, wherein said protective sheath folded to form said two layers has a fold line that resides closer to the proximal portion of said stent than to the distal portion of the stent, said fold line traveling distally as said sheath is withdrawn from said stent.

6. A method of protecting the passage of a stent through a patient'"'"'s lumen by a dilatation catheter comprising:

disposing a stent over a dilatation catheter, said stent adapted to be expanded into a larger diameter by said catheter, said dilatation catheter having an elongated catheter body with a distal end, an inner lumen extending through said body, an expandable member adapted to expand said stent into said larger diameter, and a guidewire disposed within said inner lumen, said guidewire having a distal portion extending out said distal end of the elongated catheter body;

disposing a protective sheath over said stent, said protective sheath folded into two layers, and having two ends, with one end attached to said guidewire and the second end attached to said elongated catheter body;

moving said guidewire distally relative to said elongated catheter body to cause said protective sheath to be unfolded and to uncover said underlying stent, and wherein said expandable member is expanded to expand said stent to said larger diameter.