Instrument for implanting and extracting stents

• US 5,411,507 A
• Filed: 01/05/1994
• Issued: 05/02/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH (Richard & Annemarie Wolf- Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH (Richard & Annemarie Wolf- Stiftung)
• Inventors: Heckele, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAWSON, GLENN K
• Application Number:
  US08/177,882
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 128/20, 604/104-109, 606/1, 606/108, 606/190-199, 606/151, 606/213, 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 623/900
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts

Abstract

An instrument is provided which is suitable, inter alia, for the implantation and extraction of stents in hollow body organs. The instrument has an inner first tube and an outer second tube that can be displaced axially relative to each other, and spreading elements that can be directed radially outwardly and flexibly from the longitudinal axis of the instrument for the purpose of holding the stent. The spreading elements can be brought into a position against the stent by means of a displacement of one of the tubes in one direction. The proximal and distal ends of the spreading elements are attached to respective rings which fix the spreading elements at a radial spacing from the longitudinal axis of the instrument. Through displacement of one of the tubes, which acts upon one of the rings, the distance between the rings can be changed, whereby upon reduction of this distance, the spreading elements are deformed, creating outwardly directed bows which exert force against the inner circumference of the stent.

Claims

1. An instrument (1) for implanting and extraction of stents for the re-channelization of hollow organs, comprising an inner first tube (2) and an outer second tube (3) which slidably houses and is axially displaceable relative to the first tube, said first and second tubes having a common longitudinal axis and respective proximal and distal ends, spreading elements (14) that can be directed radially outwardly and flexibly from said longitudinal axis for the purpose of holding a stent, whereby the spreading elements (14) can be brought into a position against an inner surface of a stent by means of axial movement of one of said tubes, the spreading elements (14) having proximal and distal ends each attached to a ring (13) and being secured with regard to their radial spacing from the longitudinal axis, each of said rings (13) slidably engaging said first tube (2), whereby through displacement of one of said tubes, which acts upon one of the rings (13), the distance between the rings (13) is varied and the spreading elements (14) are thereby deformed, thus creating in said spreading elements radially outwardly expanding bows which exert force against the inner surface of a stent, wherein the rings (13) are carried on the inner tube (2) in such a way that they can be turned freely on the inner tube, and an outer diameter of the rings corresponds to an outer diameter of the outer tube (3), and further comprising washers (19) made of low-friction material, which are placed between the respective rings (13) and a proximal end face of a distal enlargement on the inner tube (6) and the distal end of the outer tube.

2. An instrument according to claim 1, wherein the distal enlargement (6) has an outer diameter that corresponds to the outer diameter of the outer tube (3), and the rings (13) are located between the enlargement (6) and the distal end of the outer tube (3).

3. An instrument (1) for implanting and extraction of stents for the re-channelization of hollow organs, comprising an inner first tube (2) and an outer second tube (3) which slidably houses and is axially displaceable relative to the first tube, said first and second tubes having a common longitudinal axis and respective proximal and distal ends, spreading elements (14) that can be directed radially outwardly and flexibly from said longitudinal axis for the purpose of holding a stent, whereby the spreading elements (14) can be brought into a position against an inner surface of a stent by means of axial movement of one of said tubes, the spreading elements (14) having proximal and distal ends each attached to a ring (13) and being secured with regard to their radial spacing from the longitudinal axis, each of said rings (13) slidably engaging said first tube (2), whereby through displacement of one of said tubes, which acts upon one of the rings (13), the distance between the rings (13) is varied and the spreading elements (14) are thereby deformed, thus creating in said spreading elements radially outwardly expanding bows which exert force against the inner surface of a stent, wherein the spreading elements (14) comprise leaf springs made from strips of spring material, and each of their proximal and distal attachments to the rings (13) comprises a tangential joint (15) that allows for a bow-like expansion of the spreading elements relative to the rings (13) and tubes.

4. An instrument according to claim 3, wherein the spreading elements (14) together with the rings (13) form a multi-blade tube, having an outer diameter which corresponds to both an outer diameter of the outer tube (3) and an enlargement (6) of the distal end of the inner tube (2).

5. An instrument according to claim 4, wherein each joint (15) has an axle (16) lying radially inwardly of the outer diameter of the multi-blade tube.

6. An instrument (1) for implanting and extraction of stents for the re-channelization of hollow organs, comprising an inner first tube (2) and an outer second tube (3) which slidably houses and is axially displaceable relative to the first tube, said first and second tubes having a common longitudinal axis and respective proximal and distal ends, spreading elements (14) that can be directed radially outwardly and flexibly from said longitudinal axis for the purpose of holding a stent, whereby the spreading elements (14) can be brought into a position against an inner surface of a stent by means of axial movement of one of said tubes, the spreading elements (14) having proximal and distal ends each attached to a ring (13) and being secured with regard to their radial spacing from the longitudinal axis, each of said rings (13) slidably engaging on said first tube (2), whereby through displacement of one of said tubes, which acts upon one of the rings (13), the distance between the rings (13) is varied and the spreading elements (14) are thereby deformed, thus creating in said spreading elements radially outwardly expanding bows which exert force against the inner surface of a stent, and a receiving part (5) into which the proximal end of the inner tube is attached, the receiving part (5) having a connection (21) for attaching an optic thereto for removably introducing said optic (22) into a cavity (8) of the inner tube (2).

7. An instrument according to claim 6, wherein the receiving part (5) has at least one connecting sleeve (20) for the introduction of fluids into the cavity (8) of the inner tube (2).

8. An instrument according to claim 6, wherein the inner tube (2) includes means for releasably attaching the inner tube to the receiving part (5).

9. An instrument (1) for implanting and extraction of stents for the re-channelization of hollow organs, comprising an inner first tube (2) and an outer second tube (3) which slidably houses and is axially displaceable relative to the first tube, said first and second tubes having a common longitudinal axis and respective proximal and distal ends, spreading elements (14) that can be directed radially outwardly and flexibly from said longitudinal axis for the purpose of holding a stent, whereby the spreading elements (14) can be brought into a position against an inner surface of a stent by means of axial movement of one of said tubes, the spreading elements (14) having proximal and distal ends each attached to a ring (13) and being secured with regard to their radial spacing from the longitudinal axis, each of said rings (13) slidably engaging on said first tube (2), whereby through displacement of one of said tubes, which acts upon one of the rings (13), the distance between the rings (13) is varied and the spreading elements (14) are thereby deformed, thus creating in said spreading elements radially outwardly expanding bows which exert force against the inner surface of a stent, and an adjusting nut (12) for effecting the axial displacement of the tubes (2, 3) relative to each other, said adjusting nut (12) being located at the proximal end of the outer tube (3).

10. An instrument according to claim 9, further comprising a scale provided adjacent to the adjusting nut (12) for indicating the extent of axial displacement of the tubes.

11. An instrument (1) for implanting and extraction of stents for the re-channelization of hollow organs, comprising an inner first tube (2) and an outer second tube (3) which slidably houses and is axially displaceable relative to the first tube, said first and second tubes having a common longitudinal axis and respective proximal and distal ends, spreading elements (14) that can be directed radially outwardly and flexibly from said longitudinal axis for the purpose of holding a stent, whereby the spreading elements (14) can be brought into a position against an inner surface of a stent by means of axial movement of one of said tubes, the spreading elements (14) having proximal and distal ends each attached to a ring (13) and being secured with regard to their radial spacing from the longitudinal axis, each of said rings (13) slidably engaging on said first tube (2), whereby through displacement of one of said tubes, which slides one of the rings (13), the distance between the rings (13) along said inner tube is varied and the spreading elements (14) are thereby deformed, thus creating in said spreading elements radially outwardly expanding bows which exert force against the inner surface of a stent, wherein the inner tube (2) has a longitudinal cavity (8) in which is fixed a fiber-optic light guide (9), said light guide extending from the distal end of the inner tube (2) to a light-guide cable connector (11) located in a receiving part (5) at the proximal end of the inner tube (2).