Catheter with a stent

• US 5,725,571 A
• Filed: 11/20/1996
• Issued: 03/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
• Original Assignee: Schneider (Europe) GmbH (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Imbert, Christian, Gianotti, Marc, Hofmann, Eugen
• Primary Examiner(s): BRITTINGHAM, DEBRA
• Application Number:
  US08/752,273
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/11, 623/12, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198, 600/36
• US Class Current: 623/1.11
• 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 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod

Abstract

A catheter with a self-expanding stent of a permeable mesh of stiff intersecting fibers is provided. A tubular outer catheter shaft holds the stent under tension at its distal end and from which the stent can be released for placement. A displaceable inner catheter inside the tubular outer catheter shaft supports the stent axially at its proximal end. In order to release the stent, the outer catheter shaft is retracted with respect to the inner catheter. A process for producing this catheter is also described. The stent is secured by gripping it at its proximal end in such a way that it forms a permeable mesh cone that expands automatically together with the stent and has a radius that increases gradually to the radius of the relaxed stent. The stent is securely anchored on the inner catheter with the help of the mesh cone.

Claims

1. In a catheter with a self-expanding cylindrical vessel support consisting of a permeable mesh of crossing rigid filaments, wherein the vessel support expands during use from a tensioned state with a small circumference into a relaxed state supporting the vessel wall with a large circumference which is uniform over its length, due to its intrinsic force owing to its radial elasticity, with a displaceable tubular outer catheter shank which receives the tensioned vessel support in itself at its distal end and from which the vessel support can be released for use thereof, with a displaceable inner catheter in the interior of the tubular outer catheter shank which axially supports the vessel support at its proximal end, wherein the outer catheter shank is retracted relative to the inner catheter to release the vessel support, wherein the vessel support is fixed at its proximal end and secured such that it forms a permeable mesh cone which opens itself with the vessel support and of which the radius slowly increases to the radius of the relaxed vessel support, wherein the vessel support is rigidly secured on the inner catheter by means of the mesh cone and wherein the vessel support is constricted to the external diameter of the inner catheter at the proximal end of the mesh cone;

wherein the improvement comprises that the vessel support overlaps with and is connected to the inner catheter in an overlapping portion at the proximal end of the mesh cone only by a layer of binder, the overlapping portion has an outer diameter defined by the outer diameter of the proximal end of the mesh cone, and the vessel support is unattached to the inner catheter at its distal end.

2. The catheter of claim 1 wherein the inner catheter is tubular in design and ends inside the vessel support.

3. A method of producing the catheter of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the mesh cone of the vessel support is held together on the external diameter of the inner catheter by a shrink tube while the mesh cone is connected to the inner catheter.