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Stent delivery apparatus and method

  • US 5,571,135 A
  • Filed: 10/22/1993
  • Issued: 11/05/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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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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