Stent delivery apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A delivery system for implantation of a stent in a vessel, comprising:
- an elongate flexible catheter having proximal and distal ends for delivering a self-expanding stent to a predetermined location in a vessel;
a self-expanding stent having proximal and distal ends, the stent surrounding the flexible catheter near its distal end, the stent being in a delivery configuration where the stent has a reduced radius along its entire axial length;
stent retaining and release means for retaining the stent in the delivery configuration and for deploying the stent, comprised of sheath means extending over the entire axial length of the stent which holds the self-expanding stent in its delivery configuration against the outwardly urging force of the self-expanding stent;
retraction means for retracting the sheath means to release the stent to self-expand, the retraction means comprised of a wire carried in a lumen of the elongate flexible catheter which is attached to the sheath means, whereby retracting the wire retracts the sheath means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A delivery system for implantation of a self-expanding stent in a vessel is consists of an elongate flexible catheter for delivering a self-expanding stent to a predetermined location in a vessel. The stent surrounds the flexible catheter near its distal end and is held in a delivery configuration where the stent has a reduced radius along its entire axial length by a stent retaining and release means. The stent retaining and release means is either one or more slipping sleeves which either contain the stent themselves or form a waterproof chamber with the stent being contained by water soluble bands or swelling bands. The stent retaining and release means can also be a pair of sleeves connected to hydraulic pistons, or a pair of sleeves connected to push/pull wires.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A delivery system for implantation of a stent in a vessel, comprising:
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an elongate flexible catheter having proximal and distal ends for delivering a self-expanding stent to a predetermined location in a vessel; a self-expanding stent having proximal and distal ends, the stent surrounding the flexible catheter near its distal end, the stent being in a delivery configuration where the stent has a reduced radius along its entire axial length; stent retaining and release means for retaining the stent in the delivery configuration and for deploying the stent, comprised of sheath means extending over the entire axial length of the stent which holds the self-expanding stent in its delivery configuration against the outwardly urging force of the self-expanding stent; retraction means for retracting the sheath means to release the stent to self-expand, the retraction means comprised of a wire carried in a lumen of the elongate flexible catheter which is attached to the sheath means, whereby retracting the wire retracts the sheath means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
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11. A delivery system for implantation of a stent in a vessel, comprising:
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an elongate flexible catheter having proximal and distal ends for delivering a stent to a predetermined location in a vessel; an expansion balloon surrounding the flexible catheter near its distal end; a stent having proximal and distal ends, the stent surrounding the expansion balloon; sheath means extending over the entire axial length of the stent; retraction means for retracting the sheath means to release the stent for expansion, the retraction means comprised of a wire carried in a lumen of the elongate flexible catheter which is attached to the sheath means, whereby retracting the wire retracts the sheath means.
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Specification