Endoluminal prosthesis deployment device for use with prostheses of variable length and having retraction ability

• US 5,700,269 A
• Filed: 11/13/1995
• Issued: 12/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lifeport Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Corvita Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Clair, Kevin J., Pinchuk, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOO, BENJAMIN K
• Application Number:
  US08/556,408
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 606/108, 606/198, 606/194, 606/191, 606/195, 606/190, 623/1, 623/12, 604/104, 604/105, 604/106, 604/107, 604/108, 604/109
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• 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 2250/0097 Visible markings, e.g. indicia

Abstract

An endoluminal prosthesis deployment device includes a hollow plunger which is slideably mounted on a narrow inner catheter and an outer sheath through which the catheter and the plunger are slideable. The distal end of the plunger is provided with a soft retractor bulb and the distal end of the inner catheter is provided with a dilator tip. The proximal end of the plunger is provided with a locking mechanism for temporarily locking the relative positions of the plunger and the catheter and the proximal end of the outer sheath is provided with a locking mechanism for temporarily locking the relative positions of the plunger and outer sheath. The deployment device according to the invention accommodates protheses of different length by adjusting the distance between the distal end of the plunger and the dilator tip. This distance is adjusted by moving the plunger and/or the catheter relative to each other and locking their relative positions with the locking mechanism on the plunger. In addition, the retractor bulb provides a secure coupling of the distal end of the plunger to the proximal end of an endoluminal prosthesis such that the prosthesis may be retracted back into the outer sheath even after it is 80% deployed.

Claims

1. An endoluminal prosthesis deployment device for use with an endoluminal prosthesis, said device comprising:

a) an outer sheath having a proximal end and a distal end;

b) an inner plunger having a proximal end and a distal end, said inner plunger slideably disposed within said outer sheath; and

c) prosthesis gripping means on said distal end of said inner plunger for engaging a proximal end of a prosthesis and drawing the prosthesis into said distal end of said outer sheath without engaining the distal end of the prosthesis when the prothesis is completely drawn into said outer sheath, said prosthesis gripping means comprises a soft tear-resistant bulb.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein:

said distal end of said gripping means is within 0.1" and 0.25" of said distal end of said plunger.

6. A device according to claim 1, further comprising:

d) locking means coupled to one of said outer sheath and said inner plunger for releasably preventing said plunger from sliding within said sheath.

2. A device according to claim 2, wherein:

said bulb has a substantially frustroconical distal end.

3. A device according to claim 3, wherein:

said distal end of said bulb has an outer diameter which is substantially the same as an inner diameter of said outer sheath.

4. A device according to claim 4, wherein:

said outer diameter is between 0.005" larger than said inner diameter and 0.002" smaller than said inner diameter.

7. A device according to claim 7, wherein:

said locking means includes an O-ring and a fluid port, said fluid port being in fluid communication with an annular space between said sheath and said plunger.

8. An endoluminal prosthesis deployment device for use with an endoluminal prosthesis, said device comprising:

a) an outer sheath having a proximal end and a distal end;

b) an inner plunger having a proximal end and a distal end, said inner plunger slidably disposed within said outer sheath; and

c) prosthesis gripping means on said distal end of said inner plunger for engaging a proximal end of a prosthesis and drawing the prosthesis into said distal end of said outer sheath without engaging the distal end of the prosthesis when the prosthesis is completely drawn into said outer sheath;

d) an inner catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said inner catheter being slideably disposed within said inner plunger;

e) a tapered tip attached to said distal end of said inner catheter, said tapered tip being dimensioned to substantially cover said distal end of said outer sheath when said inner catheter is moved proximally relative to said outer sheath such that a prosthesis engained by said gripping means cannot be deployed without first moving said inner catheter distally.

9. A device according to claim 9, further comprising:

f) locking means coupled to one of said inner plunger and said inner catheter for releasably preventing said inner catheter from sliding within said plunger.

10. A device according to claim 10, wherein:

said locking means includes an O-ring and a fluid port, said fluid port being in fluid communication with an annular space between said catheter and said plunger.

11. A device according to claim 10, further comprising:

g) a catheter hub coupled to said proximal end of said catheter, said catheter hub including a luer connector.

12. An endoluminal prosthesis deployment device for use with an endoluminal prosthesis, said device comprising:

a) an outer sheath having a proximal end and a distal end;

b) a plunger having a proximal end and a distal end, said plunger slideably disposed within said outer sheath;

c) an inner catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, said inner catheter being slideably disposed within said plunger; and

d) a tapered tip attached to said distal end of said inner catheter, said tapered tip being dimensioned to substantially cover said distal end of said outer sheath when said inner catheter is moved proximallv relative to said outer sheath such that said distal end of said plunger cannot be moved distally beyond said distal end of said outer sheath without first moving said inner catheter distally.

13. A device according to claim 13, further comprising:

e) locking means coupled to one of said plunger and said inner catheter for releasably preventing said inner catheter from sliding within said plunger.

15. A device according to claim 13, further comprising:

e) a catheter hub coupled to said proximal end of said catheter, said catheter hub including a luer connector.

14. A device according to claim 14, wherein:

said locking means includes an O-ring and a fluid port, said fluid port being in fluid communication with an annular space between said catheter and said plunger.