Temporary support for a body lumen and method

• US 5,484,449 A
• Filed: 12/13/1993
• Issued: 01/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Schwartz, Robert S., Wolff, Rodney G., Amundson, Rodney R., Hull, Vincent W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US08/167,279
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 606/108,198,191,195,194 623/1,12
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0183 Rapid exchange or monorail catheters

Abstract

A stent and catheter device for temporary support of body lumens. The stent has a generally cylindrical continuous winding providing radial support from within a body lumen after implantation which can be implanted and removed by a balloon catheter. The stent is provided with an elongated lead attached to the proximal end of the winding and means at a proximal end of the lead and remote from the winding for uncoiling the winding to facilitate its removal in an opened condition with minimal tissue damage. This stent and catheter device is especially useful as a temporary supporting device for repairing damage to blood vessels caused during angioplasty procedures.

Claims

1. A device for providing temporary support to a body lumen comprising:

(a) a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and a balloon at the distal end;

(b) a continuous winding on the balloon, the winding comprising a wire having a first end and a second end, the wire wound into a generally cylindrical shape around the balloon;

(c) inflation means for inflating the balloon to radially expand the winding into supporting contact with the body lumen;

(d) an elongated lead having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to one of the first and second ends of the wire of the winding; and

(e) gripping means at the second end of the lead remote from the winding for grasping and withdrawing the lead, thereby uncoiling the winding and facilitating its removal in an opened condition, wherein the lead at least partially occupies a lumen at the distal end of the catheter.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the lead occupies the lumen from a point near the distal end of the catheter to the proximal end of the catheter.

3. A device for providing temporary support to a body lumen comprising:

(a) a guidewire;

(b) a rapid exchange catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and a balloon at the distal end, the catheter having a first lumen at a distal end of the catheter extending from an opening immediately proximal to the balloon to an opening distal to the balloon which slideably receives the guidewire and a second lumen extending from the proximal end of the catheter to an opening immediately adjacent to the balloon;

(c) a continuous winding on the balloon, the winding comprising a wire having a first end and a second end which is wound into a generally cylindrical shape around the balloon;

(d) inflation means for inflating the balloon to radially expand the winding into supporting contact with the body lumen;

(e) an elongated lead having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to one of the ends of the wire of the winding and extending through the second lumen of the catheter to the proximal end of the catheter; and

(f) gripping means at the second end of the lead remote from the winding for grasping and withdrawing the lead, thereby uncoiling the winding and facilitating its removal in an opened condition.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the lead portion is an integral extension of the winding.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the lead is a wire.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein the lead is a tube.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the tube is shrink tubing.

8. The device of claim 3 wherein the gripping means comprises stiffening means at the proximal end of the lead.

9. The device of claim 8 in which the stiffening means comprises a metal tube into which the lead is inserted.

10. The device of claim 3 wherein the gripping means comprises a larger lead diameter near the second end than near the first end.

11. The device of claim 3 wherein the continuous winding has a zig-zag configuration and the device includes means at the distal end thereof for straightening the zig-zags as the winding is removed.

12. A method for temporarily supporting a body lumen comprising:

(a) providing a guidewire;

(b) providing a rapid exchange balloon catheter having a proximal end and a distal end and a balloon at the distal end, the catheter having a guidewire lumen which slideably receives the guidewire and a second lumen extending from the proximal end of the catheter to an opening immediately adjacent to the balloon;

(c) providing a continuous winding on the balloon of the balloon catheter, the winding wound into a generally cylindrical shape around the balloon with an elongated lead attached to the winding and extending through the second lumen of the catheter;

(d) placing the guidewire into the body lumen to be supported;

(e) placing the catheter over the guidewire and into the body lumen with the balloon and continuous winding positioned at the portion of the body lumen to be supported;

(f) inflating the positioned balloon to radially expand the continuous winding into supporting contact with the body lumen;

(g) deflating the inflated balloon, thereby leaving the radially expanded continuous winding in supporting contact with the body lumen;

(h) maintaining the support of the body vessel with the radially expanded continuous winding for a desired period of time; and

(i) withdrawing the lead after the desired period of time through the catheter lumen at a point remote from the winding to effect the uncoiling of the winding and removal of the winding in an opened condition.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the winding has a zig-zag configuration and the step for withdrawing the lead also includes straightening the zig-zags as the winding is removed.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein immediately prior to the step of withdrawing the lead the balloon catheter is withdrawn to place the distal end of the balloon catheter at the proximal end of the winding.