Catheter with a vascular support

• US 5,626,602 A
• Filed: 01/17/1995
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
• Original Assignee: Schneider (Europe) GmbH (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Lehmann, Paul, Gianotti, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): DAWSON, GLENN K
• Application Number:
  US08/375,591
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/191, 606/198, 606/108, 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 604/164, 604/764, 604/96-104
• US Class Current: 606/198
• 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 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0076 ellipsoidal or ovoid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

A catheter with a radially self-expanding cylindrical vascular support made of a permeable mesh of crossed stiff fibers is disclosed. The catheter has a tubular outer catheter shaft and an inner catheter to which the vascular support is fixed. The tubular outer catheter shaft is axially movable with respect to the inner catheter.

Claims

1. A process for making a device with a radially self-expanding permeable mesh vascular support, the process comprising:

(a) providing a tubular outer catheter having a proximal end and a distal end defining a first lumen with a distal opening;

(b) providing an inner catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion defining a second, guidewire receiving lumen;

(c) providing a vascular support means formed from a radially self-expanding permeable mesh of braided fibers and having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

(d) providing a tapered tip with a proximal portion;

(e) placing the proximal portion of the vascular support means on the distal portion of the inner catheter;

(f) placing a first heat shrink tube over the proximal portion of the vascular support means;

(g) placing the distal portion of the vascular support means on the proximal portion of the tip;

(h) placing a second heat shrink tube over the distal portion of the vascular support means;

(i) heating the first and second heat shrink tubes to simultaneously compress and affix the proximal portion of the vascular support means to the distal portion of the inner catheter and to simultaneously compress and affix the distal portion of the vascular support means to the proximal portion of the tip, such that the vascular support means forms a proximal mesh cone at the proximal portion of the vascular support means and a distal mesh cone at the distal portion of the vascular support means; and

(j) disposing the tubular outer catheter about the inner catheter such that the inner catheter is coaxially disposed in the first lumen of the tubular outer catheter and axially movable with respect to the tubular outer catheter, and the tip is adapted to close and seal the distal opening of the outer catheter when the distal opening of the outer catheter is adjacent the proximal portion of the tip.

2. A method for making a medical device comprising:

(a) providing a tubular outer catheter having a proximal end and a distal end defining a first lumen with a distal opening;

(b) providing an inner catheter having a proximal portion and a distal portion defining a second, guidewire receiving lumen;

(c) providing a vascular support means formed from a radially self-expanding permeable mesh of braided fibers and having a proximal portion and a distal portion;

(d) providing a tapered tip with a proximal portion;

(e) attaching the vascular support means to the inner catheter distal portion and tip proximal portion, thereby forming a medical device with a vascular support adapted to self-expand and support vasculature and having a proximal mesh cone at the proximal end of the vascular support means and a distal mesh cone at the distal end of the vascular support means; and

(f) disposing the tubular outer catheter about the inner catheter such that the inner catheter is coaxially disposed in the first lumen of the tubular outer catheter and axially movable with respect to the tubular outer catheter, and the tip is adapted to close and seal the distal opening of the outer catheter when the distal opening of the outer catheter is adjacent the proximal portion of the tip.